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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cape Cod Swimmer Infected with Flesh-Eating Bacteria
Massachusetts health officials say the case is rare and the beaches will remain open 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. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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. Read the original article on People
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
Cape Cod swimmer infected with bacteria that can cause rare ‘flesh-eating' disease, health officials say
The Vibrio bacteria in coastal waters," according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Those who consume contaminated shellfish can also contract the disease, the advisory said, but no such cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts as of this year. Advertisement The alert was prompted by the confirmation of an extremely rare case of Vibrio vulnificus infection that was likely acquired while swimming in the coastal water of Buzzards Bay, the statement said. It is the seventh confirmed case among Massachusetts residents in the last several years, including four that were likely exposed in state, health officials said. The condition is 'extremely uncommon' and is preventable with appropriate precautions and wound care, Falmouth health officials said. '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,' he said. Advertisement Vibrio vulnificus is a bacteria that lives in warm water and can cause necrotizing fasciitis, or 'flesh-eating disease,' according to the ' Vibrio bacteria normally live in warm, salt or brackish waters along the Atlantic coast,' Robbie Goldstein, the state's public health commissioner, said in a statement. 'Heat waves and above-average water surface temperatures create favorable conditions for Vibrio bacteria to grow, making May through October generally the peak season for these bacteria,' Goldstein said. 'People with open wounds who spend time in the water, or those who consume contaminated shellfish, can develop an infection when the bacteria enter the body,' Goldstein said. 'Sometimes these infections can spread through the bloodstream and cause severe, even life-threatening illness.' There are several species of Vibrio bacteria that can cause human illness. From 2015 to 2024, there was an average of 88 cases of the various Vibrio infections per year in Massachusetts, according to the state department of public health. There were 62 cases in 2020, and 127 in 2024, the department said. Most of the infections arose from consuming contaminated shellfish, state health officials said. Symptoms range from fever, to redness, pain, swelling and warmth in the wound area, as well as discoloration and discharge. Although Vibrio vulnificus infections are most common in the warm waters of the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Florida, rising water temperatures are contributing to more cases arising further north, This year, there have been 17 cases in Louisiana, 16 in Florida, and seven in North Carolina. Florida has reported five deaths so far, the most of any state, CBS reported. Advertisement According to Barnstable County health officials, those at highest risk of infection are people with liver disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, and chronic illnesses. Pregnant women, older adults, and young children also should take extra precautions. And people with open cuts, scrapes, or fresh tattoos should avoid swimming or wading, state health officials said. Waters cannot be tested for the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Tonya Alanez can be reached at
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Bacteria that can cause rare "flesh-eating" disease infects swimmer at Cape Cod beach
Cape Cod health officials say a person who swam at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth has contracted a rare but potentially life-threatening infection from a bacteria that can cause a "flesh-eating" illness. The Falmouth Health Department said an older adult has a confirmed case of Vibrio vulnificus after swimming at the Buzzards Bay beach with an exposed wound. The agency said the bacteria is "extremely uncommon in Massachusetts," and the beach remains open for swimming. "Cape Cod's beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community," Falmouth health agent Scott McGann 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." The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday issued an alert about "the potential danger of Vibrio bacteria in coastal waters." The Centers for Disease Control says Vibrio vulnificus is a type of bacteria that lives in warm water and can cause necrotizing fasciitis, also known as "flesh-eating disease." "What's striking about this, and the reason that it's a public health alert, is this particular bacteria is not typically seen in this area and it's important for people who are at high risk to understand that the risk might actually be a little elevated right now," Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer with Tufts Medicine told WBZ-TV. The CBS Evening News reported just this week that cases are increasing as ocean temperatures rise. Most infections have been seen in southeast states like Louisiana, Florida and North Carolina, but there have been cases reported in Connecticut and New York. DPH said there have been seven confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus among residents in recent years, including four that were likely contracted in the state. "It is rare," Dr. Doron said. "We do sometimes see these cases in the hospital, but most of the cases that we see are people who just returned from or traveled to the Gulf Coast area and were swimming there." Symptoms include fever, redness, pain, swelling and warmth in the wound area, as well as discoloration and discharge. "Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation," the CDC says. "About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill." Most vibrio vulnificus infections come from eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. The Falmouth Health Department said there have not been any cases of the disease tied to eating oysters or shellfish harvested from Massachusetts. There is no way to test the water for Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Falmouth authorities stressed that healthy people have a low risk of severe illness, but people with liver disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems or other chronic conditions should take precautions in the water. DPH said in a social media post that swimmers with any kind of open wound should avoid salt water or brackish water, which is a mix of salt and fresh water. If they do go in the water, they should cover the wound with a waterproof bandage.
