State health officials are investigating the death of an Oahu high school teacher who contracted a disease commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria.
Kurt Sonoda was a special education teacher at his alma mater, Pearl City High School, where he coached girls’ golf. He was a graduate of the University of Hawaii at West Oahu.
The 45-year-old Sonoda went to work last Thursday, but came home early because he was ill. On Friday morning, he was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, where he died that night following surgery.
Sonoda’s family and doctors don’t know where he caught the disease, necrotizing fasciitis. The state Department of Health learned of the death Monday.
Information from: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, http://www.starbulletin.com
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