N.B. Woman Urges Vigilance After Husband Dies from Streptococcus Infection

A New Brunswick woman is urging people experiencing symptoms of a streptococcus A infection not to hesitate in seeking medical attention. Her husband, Dan Wetmore, died on January 19th in Moncton after initially hesitating to see a healthcare professional. He was 49 years old.

Kim Wetmore wants to prevent others from suffering the same fate, as her husband had always been reluctant to seek medical help. His death comes at a time when cases of streptococcus A, which can be fatal and is responsible for approximately one in ten deaths, are on the rise. There were over 4,600 cases reported in Canada in 2023.

A streptococcus A infection occurs when a common bacteria found in the throat or on the skin spreads and can cause a necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease.

In the past, New Brunswick typically saw an average of six deaths per year from streptococcus A, but in 2023, there were 10 reported deaths. According to public health data, two people died from the disease between January 1st and 12th, including a child.

Dan Wetmore developed symptoms on January 8th. As he had a sore throat, he decided to take the weekend off work at Kurt Sausage stand in the Moncton Market. After a week, he started feeling better, but then quickly fell ill again. Fatigue, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pain forced him to stop working for the rest of the week.

I told him that he needed to go to the hospital, that it wasn’t just the flu,” Kim Wetmore said.

Things didn’t improve, and Dan called 911 around 6 a.m. on January 19th. When Kim arrived at the hospital, she was told that her husband had streptococcus A. He passed away later that afternoon.

After the diagnosis, Kim Wetmore had to isolate herself and was prescribed antibiotics. The day after the funeral, her brother tested positive for streptococcus A. The disease was promptly treated, but Kim Wetmore believes that her brother would have likely ignored the symptoms if not for Dan’s death.

In New Brunswick, public health officials are urging citizens to be vigilant and follow preventive measures, such as staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, wearing a mask in public when ill, and keeping vaccinations up to date.

This article is based on a report by Philippe Drost for CBC.