Cape Cod Swimmer Infected with Flesh-Eating Bacteria
NEED TO KNOW
A swimmer in Cape Cod was infected with flesh-eating bacteria due to an open wound
Massachusetts health officials say the case is rare and the beaches will remain open
Residents are encouraged to educate themselves on the rare bacteria, as most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer
Health officials are warning Massachusetts residents and visitors after a swimmer contracted flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus while on Cape Cod.
On Friday, August 8, local and state officials confirmed a single case in an 'older individual' who was swimming with an exposed wound at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. The Falmouth Health Department said there is currently no advisory or closure of the beach.
'Cape Cod's beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community,' Scott McGann, health agent for the Town of Falmouth, said in a statement. 'By taking a few simple precautions, residents and visitors, and particularly anyone who is vulnerable or immunocompromised, can continue to enjoy them safely.'
On August 13, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that there have been seven confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus among residents in the last several years, including four that were likely exposed in the state.
This case comes shortly after health officials warned residents in Gulf Coast states about flesh-eating bacteria following the death of eight people from infections.
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Vibrio is the source of about 80,000 illnesses in the United States per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vibrio naturally live in coastal waters, according to the CDC. Most people are sickened by vibrio after eating raw or undercooked shellfish — particularly oysters — because the bacteria will 'concentrate' inside the shellfish, the CDC explains. However, they naturally live in brackish water and cause an infection if a swimmer has an open wound — or a recent tattoo or piercing.
Most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer.
Symptoms of a Vibrio infection vary, depending on how the bacteria is contracted. For bloodstream infections, the CDC says someone may experience 'fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.' However, for a wound infection, a fever will accompany swelling and discharge around the wound. And for those who ingest the bacteria, it can mimic food poisoning, with 'watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever.'
The CDC says a Vibrio infection is treatable with antibiotics, but in more dire cases, 'doctors may need to amputate a patient's legs or arms to remove dead or infected tissue.'
The flesh-eating bacteria is fatal for 1 in 5 people, according to the CDC, which warns that some people die within a day or two of exhibiting symptoms.
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