Seafood at New York Chinatown markets suspected of causing outbreak of rare red-lumps skin infection

ASHLEY COLLMAN dailymail.co.uk An outbreak of a rare skin infection is sweeping through New York City's Chinatowns, according to a warning issued by the Health Department.  The department was informed of the outbreak by doctors servicing the Chinese community in New York, who have reported at least 30 cases of Mycobacterium marinum.  The rare skin infection causes red, tender lumps and if untreated, could require surgery.  Outbreak: Thirty cases of Mycobacterium marinum have been reported in the New York Cit area. Everyone who has been infected reported having come into contact with live or raw seafood at Chinatown markets Everyone of the infected admitted to coming in contact with live or raw seafood sold at Chinatown markets in either Lower Manhattan; Flushing, Queens; or Sunset Park, Brooklyn.  Dr Jay Varma, the health department's deputy commission for disease control, told 1010 WINS that the outbreak is still under investigation, but that they're warning anyone who comes into contact with the seafood at the markets to wear waterproof gloves.  'This is a very uncommon bacteria so the fact that we’ve detected 30 cases so far suggests that something has changed, either about the water in the tank or the tanks themselves or the types of fish or seafood that are causing this problem,' Dr Varma said. People are more susceptible to getting the infection if they have an exposed cut or wound where the bacteria can enter the body.