rene lost his arm to bacteria and he never even got in the water. only handled shrimp for bait on a fishing trip. this man's left leg still twice its normal size a year after wading into water in biloxi, mississippi. >> it was the most painful thing. these people saved my leg. >> reporter: his heart goes out to the medical staff at memorial hospital in gulfport. and it's not just mississippi. it can happen to anyone anywhere. a few recent cases, louisiana, in georgia, michigan, idaho, oregon, in kansas, a brain-destroying amoeba dook the life of 9-year-old hally yust last week. >> the amoeba finds its way way back in our noses, then works its way into our central nervous system. >> reporter: jacksonville university recently tested six bodies of water near its florida campus for the flesh-eating