The disease is known as necrotizing fasciitis, and is caused
by certain strains of group A streptococcus (S. pyogenes). The
popular press has certainly seized on the few cases that pop up,
but it's not clear if there is a significant increase in cases
of this in the past few years.
Tony
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Anthony Lobo
Department of Biology
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA 19426
