Latest news with #V.vulnificus
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
Florida reports 13 cases of flesh-eating bacteria; death toll climbs to eight
Florida has reported 13 cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria commonly known as 'flesh-eating,' across 11 counties, with the death toll rising to eight, according to the Florida Department of Health. 'Eight of these cases were related to wound exposure, and all cases have been sporadic and unrelated to an outbreak,' health officials told el Nuevo Herald. As of July 24, the state had reported four deaths: one in Bay County, one in Broward, another in Hillsborough, and one more in Walton. The counties where the other deaths occurred have not yet been disclosed. The highest number of Vibrio vulnificus cases in Florida was recorded in 2024, with 82 infections and 19 deaths. Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties 'experienced an unusual increase in cases due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene,' according to state health authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that extreme weather events, such as coastal flooding, hurricanes, and storm surges, can cause coastal waters to spread inland, increasing the risk of Vibrio infections in wounds among people exposed to these waters — especially older evacuees or those with underlying health conditions. A similar situation occurred in Florida after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Each year, an average of 150 to 200 cases are reported in the U.S., with most occurring in Gulf Coast states, according to the CDC. Most people infected with Vibrio experience diarrhea, and some may also have stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. One species, V. vulnificus, is known to cause life-threatening infections, and about one in five infected people die — sometimes within one to two days after becoming ill, according to the CDC. Louisiana has reported the most Vibrio vulnificus cases so far in 2025, with 17 infections — well above the state's annual average of seven, based on data from the Louisiana Department of Health. The bacteria live in coastal waters, including saltwater and brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water). Most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters. Infection can also occur when an open wound is exposed to water containing the bacteria, according to the CDC's website. The Florida Department of Health recommends taking steps to avoid infection, such as cooking seafood to safe internal temperatures before eating, keeping raw or undercooked seafood and their juices away from other foods. Other tips include: Washing your hands with soap and water after handling raw open wounds, cuts, or scrapes with a waterproof bandage when in contact with seawater, brackish water, floodwater, or standing cleaning wounds with clean water and soap after any exposure to such water, or to raw or undercooked seafood or their immediate medical attention if a wound becomes red, swollen, oozes pus, or shows other signs of infection such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, confusion, or disorientation.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
'Flesh-eating' bacteria cases are popping up along the Gulf Coast. What you need to know.
As temperatures continue to swelter and people flock to the Gulf Coast to enjoy its warm, salty waters, health officials are warning swimmers about a "flesh-eating" bacteria that has killed at least eight people this summer. The bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, is commonly associated with the "flesh-eating" moniker thanks to its ability to cause infections that damage or "eat away" at skin and tissue. This year, Louisiana is reporting an abnormally high rate of infection. "Amid increasing water temperatures and extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, flooding, and severe storms), people who are at increased risk for V. vulnificus infection (those with weakened immune systems and conditions like liver disease, diabetes and kidney failure) ... should exercise caution when engaging in coastal water activities," said a Louisiana Department of Health warning issued July 30. Despite a recent uptick in cases, Vibrio vulnificus infections are still rare. Even so, experts have advised that people in coastal areas exercise extra caution while enjoying the waning days of summer. Here's what to know. Dangerous waters: What to know about the flesh-eating bacteria and brain-eating amoebas Where are flesh-eating bacteria cases in the US? How common is it? Louisiana has reported the highest number of Vibrio vulnificus infections in a decade, with 17 reported cases and hospitalizations, including four deaths, as of July 30. This is compared to the 10 years prior, which saw an average of only seven cases and one death during the same time period. Florida has likewise reported four deaths caused by Vibrio vulnificus infections as of July 24. The state has counted 13 total cases so far, a rate that isn't necessarily abnormal at this point in the year, according to Florida health data. An average of 150 to 200 cases are reported each year, with most of them in Gulf Coast states, according to CDC data. USA TODAY has reached out to health departments in other coastal states regarding possible cases. What is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that causes a serious infection called vibriosis. Different types of Vibrio bacteria cause different infections, with Vibrio vulnificus causing the "most serious forms of vibriosis," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The potentially fatal infection can quickly result in tissue damage and spreading blisters, low blood pressure, fever, organ damage, sepsis and death. Vibrio vulnificus is often referred to as "flesh-eating" because it can also cause necrotizing fasciitis, a bacterial infection that destroys muscle and skin tissue, causing flesh around wounds to die, according to the CDC. While it is possible, Vibrio vulnificus is not considered to be the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis in the U.S. The bacteria and resulting infections are rare but can be life-threatening. Without treatment, death can occur in just a few days. How does 'flesh-eating' bacteria enter the body? Vibrio vulnificus requires salt water for survival and thrives in warm, brackish water where a stream or river meets seawater, according to the CDC. Most infections occur when contaminated water is swallowed or gets into an open wound, such as a cut or scrape. It can enter through broken skin but cannot penetrate unharmed skin. Vibrio vulnificus can also enter your body when you eat uncooked or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters. In fact, raw oysters and other seafood, along with seawater exposure, are the most common sources of Vibrio outbreaks tracked by the CDC. Once inside the body, it can spread quickly to the blood and organs, usually within a matter of hours. Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection Symptoms of a Vibrio vulnificus infection begin suddenly and quickly, usually less than 24 hours after exposure, according to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic. Common symptoms include: How to protect yourself against Vibrio vulnificus When consuming seafood, advises the CDC, you should: When swimming, you should: Contributing: Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Deadly Bacteria Linked to Seawater Spreading up East Coast of US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A potentially deadly bacterium, once mostly confined to the Gulf States, is now spreading north along the U.S. East Coast. Why It Matters Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium often labeled "flesh-eating" for its ability to cause severe and sometimes fatal tissue damage. Last year, cases of Vibrio vulnificus surged to record levels in Florida, with the Florida Department of Health reporting 82 cases and 19 deaths, marking a significant increase from previous years. State health officials linked this surge to flooding following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images What To Know The first fatalities this year in connection with Vibrio vulnificus were recently reported in Florida. And the bacteria is expanding. Aileen Marty, a professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University, told Newsweek over email: "We see cases of Vibrio vulnificus every year and cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer." "The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)," Marty said. However, she added: "In recent years, cases have expanded in the Eastern U.S., with instances reported as far north as Connecticut and New York, primarily attributed to rising coastal water temperatures and extreme weather events." Newsweek also spoke with Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, division of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo, who echoed this. "Although most common in the U.S. in the Gulf States," Vibrio vulnificus is "expanding Northward at an estimated range of 48 km/year due to increasing water temperatures," he said. "Severe infections have been described from NC, NY, and CT," Russo added. There were multiple documented cases and fatalities in these three states in 2023, as per reports from health officials and local news. Marty told Newsweek that "the treatment must be administered urgently." "Surgical intervention may be needed for extensive tissue infections—we sometimes have to amputate limbs to save lives. Rapid diagnostic strategies and awareness by HCW and the public can significantly reduce the risk of death, which can increase from roughly 33 percent to over 50 percent if treatment is delayed by just 24 hours," Marty said. What Is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in coastal waters, including salt and brackish water. There are around a dozen kinds of Vibrio. This causes the human illness, vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the U.S., of which 52,000 cases are the result of eating contaminated food. The most common species that cause human illness in the U.S. are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. The bacterium is "defined by warm, brackish, and coastal marine environments, with ongoing expansion into higher latitudes as global temperatures rise. This organism is most prevalent in regions with water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius [60 degrees Fahrenheit] and moderate-to-high salinity," Russo said. Marty also told Newsweek that "symptoms often appear within 12-24 hours and include gastrointestinal distress, fever, blistering skin lesions, and potentially life-threatening sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis after wound exposure." "Most severe cases occur in people with underlying health problems; mild or asymptomatic cases are likely underreported, as healthy individuals may experience few or no symptoms," Marty said. What People Are Saying Russo added: "Avoid eating raw seafood, especially oysters, and wash your hands after handling raw seafood. If you are at increased risk for severe infection as delineated above this is particularly important. If you believe you have developed an infection, please seek health care ASAP since V. vulnificus infection can progress in a fulminant fashion; time is of the essence." William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University, told Newsweek over email: "The precautions are straightforward. Avoid going into the coastal water if you have broken skin. If you sustain an injury in the water, wash it off promptly and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if the wound looks infected or the area becomes painful. Tell your provider of your water contact. Persons with chronic liver disease or who are immunocompromised should avoid eating raw oysters." What's Next Health officials continue to monitor the northward spread of Vibrio vulnificus. Current information is available from the CDC and local health departments.
