Access Health Explores the Deadly Oyster Virus Contracted by Ex-YouTuber Billy LeBlanc
July 24, 2024
Ex-YouTuber Billy Leblanc claims he nearly faced death this past month after contracting a deadly oyster virus that took his partner.
About Billy Leblanc
The name Billy LeBlanc may or may not sound familiar to you. Billy was the father of a once very popular family vlogging YouTube channel that went by the name Bratayley. The family started posting on YouTube all the way back in 2010, accumulating over 7 million subscribers. The video blogs followed the day-to-day lives of LeBlanc’s three children – Hayley, Julianna, and Caleb.
Tragically, in 2015 Billy’s son, Caleb LeBlanc, unexpectedly passed away as a result of undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The family continued to post on YouTube for a few more years before Billy and now ex-wife Katie went through a divorce in 2019.
Billy’s Near-Death Experience
Just this past month Billy took to his social media to share that not only had he spent 12 days in the hospital nearly escaping death, but his current partner Natalie Clark, unfortunately passed away. According to Billy’s Instagram, the two had contracted a virus from bacteria known as Vibrio Vulnificus after consuming raw oysters.
In a video he shared online, Billy stated that “we ate oysters and we both felt sick for a couple days, and then I woke up and she was gone.”
After 12 days in the hospital, including 8 days in the ICU, Billy was able to recover.
What is Vibrio Vulnificus?
The oyster virus arose from a rare bacteria known as Vibrio Vulnificus which can infect you if exposed to open wounds or when you consume raw or undercooked shellfish. The infection can lead to sepsis, internal bleeding, organ damage, and if left untreated can be fatal. A vibrio vulnificus infection is very rare and only 100-200 reported cases of it in the U.S each year.
Symptoms
The Cleveland Clinic identifies the following as some of the symptoms of the vibrio vulnificus infection:
- Fever and chills
- Rash or red skin
- Fluid-filled Blisters
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Fortunately, Billy has been released from the hospital and is on the road to recovery. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above after consuming raw shellfish, it’s important to seek care immediately to limit complications.
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