Bay County, Florida – Authorities in Florida report that one person has died in bay County due to a flesh-eating bacterium.
According to the Florida Department of Health, there have been 11 total cases in Florida involving the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. The agency stated that the Bay County death brings the total number of fatalities involving the flesh-eating bacterium in the state to four. Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties have previously reported bacterial exposures.
The bacterium normally lives in warm, brackish seawater and can cause illness in people in two ways. Eating contaminated seafood can lead to vomiting,diarrhea,and abdominal pain. If an open wound comes into contact with warm seawater infected with the bacteria, it can cause serious skin infections, ulcers, and tissue breakdown.
While healthy individuals typically develop mild illness, those with weakened immune systems, particularly people with chronic liver disease, are at a substantially higher risk, health officials advised. Once the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it can become life-threatening.
Officials have not yet disclosed the exact location within Bay County where the fatal infection occurred or the circumstances surrounding it.Bay County had not reported a death from this bacterium since 2023. Flesh-eating bacteria cases have generally decreased in the state in recent years, according to officials.
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Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that occurs naturally in warm, coastal waters, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. It is indeed most commonly associated with oysters and other shellfish harvested from these waters. Infection can occur through the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood or through exposure of open wounds to contaminated seawater.Individuals with compromised immune systems, liver disease, or diabetes are at a higher risk of severe illness and death. Symptoms can range from gastrointestinal distress to severe wound infections and bloodstream infections (septicemia). Public health advisories often recommend avoiding raw shellfish consumption,especially for vulnerable populations,and thoroughly cleaning any wounds that may have come into contact with seawater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium found in warm, coastal waters that can cause severe illness in humans, particularly through consumption of contaminated seafood or contact with open wounds.
How can someone get infected?
Infection can occur by eating raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters, or by exposing an open wound to warm, brackish seawater containing the bacteria.
Who is most at risk?
Individuals with weakened immune systems, chronic liver disease, diabetes, or other underlying health conditions are at a higher risk of severe illness and complications.
what are the symptoms of infection?
Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, chills, and severe skin infections or ulcers if the bacteria enters through a wound.
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