Vibrio vulnificus causing fatalities in US

  • Thread starter Astronuc
  • Start date
  • #1
Astronuc
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
2023 Award
21,919
6,359

Rare flesh-eating bacteria kills 5 in Florida, 3 in New York, Connecticut​

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...nificus-bacteria-kills-5-florida/70631024007/

The Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which can be found in raw or undercooked seafood, saltwater, and brackish water, led to the death of two people since January in Hillsborough County, home of Tampa, according to the Florida Department of Health. An additional person died in each of the surrounding Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties. Florida has recorded a total of 26 cases statewide this year.

The bacteria has led to other recent deaths in the Northeast, where New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the virus bacteria was detected in a person who died in Long Island.

Warming waters may enhance the presence of Vibrio in the water and in seafood.

https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/wounds.html

You may have heard that you can get Vibrio infection from eating raw or undercooked oysters and other seafood. But did you know you can also get a Vibrio infection through an open wound? This can happen when a wound comes into contact with raw or undercooked seafood, its juices, or its drippings or with saltwater or brackish water.*

One species, Vibrio vulnificus, can cause life-threatening wound infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection require intensive care or limb amputations, and about 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

Some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Some media reports call this kind of infection “flesh-eating bacteria,” even though necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by more than one type of bacteria.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Likes Lnewqban and pinball1970
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #3
Vibriosis: A 40-year-old woman from San Jose, and a mother of a six-year-old, lost both of her arms and legs after contracting flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.

According to a friend:
Her fingers were black, her feet were black, her bottom lip was black. She had complete sepsis and her kidneys were failing,"
https://news.yahoo.com/us-mom-loses-limb-seafood-vibrio-explainer-180555130.html
 
  • Sad
  • Wow
Likes BillTre and pinball1970

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
778
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • General Discussion
Replies
1
Views
8K
  • General Discussion
3
Replies
78
Views
9K
  • Earth Sciences
Replies
3
Views
3K
Back
Top