A deadly bacterial infection known as Vibrio vulnificus has claimed at least eight lives in Florida due to flesh-eating infections, according to state health officials. The Florida Department of Health has confirmed 13 total cases across 11 counties.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an average of 150-200 infections per year, mostly occurring in Gulf Coast states including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The U.S. is seeing a higher-than-average case count this year, with Louisiana reporting 17 infections and four deaths so far.
Vibrio vulnificus is found in coastal waters and can enter open wounds when people swim. The bacteria thrive in warm, salty water and are associated with increased plankton blooms and natural disasters like hurricanes.
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus include high fevers, intense pain, swelling, and redness at the site of infection, as well as severe vomiting and diarrhea if contaminated shellfish is consumed. Healthy individuals generally experience mild symptoms, but those who are immunocompromised or have chronic liver disease face serious health risks.
Diagnosis and treatment involve testing cultures from stool, wounds, or blood. Mild infections require increased fluid intake to prevent dehydration, while those with severe or prolonged infections receive antibiotics and may undergo surgery to remove dead tissue.
Vibrio vulnificus has a high mortality rate, with about half of bloodstream infections being fatal. To prevent infection, experts recommend avoiding swimming in open water with open wounds and consuming raw shellfish from unhygienic sources.
According to health officials, Vibrio vulnificus is rare but should not be a cause for alarm. For up-to-date information on cases and prevention measures, check with local health departments.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/more-cases-deadly-flesh-eating-bacterial-infection-popular-vacation-destination