This year, the bacteria which can cause flesh-eating disease has killed five people in Florida out of 26 confirmed cases. Three people have also died in the New York area from the same infection. Experts say the bacteria is more prevalent in warm, brackish seawater and climate change, along with warming of the waters, may be contributing to the rise in cases.
This bacterium, vibrio vulnificus, usually resides in raw shellfish and seawater. Entry of vibrio vulnificus into the body may be either via food ingested or an open wound. It causes skin breakdown with ulcers and systemic infection, intensive care, amputation, or death in serious cases.
Unless it’s caught early, the infection can easily be treated with antibiotics; otherwise, it may progress rapidly to septic shock, and finally to organ failure. The infection can significantly affect those people who have weakened immune systems, chronic liver disease, cancer, or diabetes.
“The best way to prevent this infection is to avoid eating raw shellfish, and to avoid swimming in the ocean if you have an open wound or a weakened immune system.”
Probably due to churning of the seawater by Hurricane Ian in 2022, the exposure to the bacteria increased; Florida witnessed a hike in cases. This year, 26 cases and five deaths have been recorded in Florida. In contrast, there were 37 cases and 11 deaths last year.
“We’re seeing more cases than we’ve ever seen before. We think it’s related to climate change and the warming of the waters.”
New Jersey has reported three cases and one death since the beginning of the year, while New York has reported two cases and two deaths. Both states have experienced unusually sweltering temperatures this summer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vibrio vulnificus, every year, sickens about 205 people in the United States and kills about 45. However, real numbers could be more than that as most cases either go undiagnosed or unreported.
The symptoms of the infection by Vibrio vulnificus include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, redness of the skin, swelling, blistering, and necrosis. If one has recently eaten raw shellfish or swum in seawater and is experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, he should immediately visit his healthcare provider.