Latest news with #healthWarning
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thinking of heading to Florida, Ohioans? Flesh-eating bacteria found in 10 counties
Ohioans planning on squeezing in a last-minute vacation to Florida before the start of school should be aware of a rare "flesh-eating" bacteria in the Sunshine State. Florida health officials announced on July 11 that four people had died and at least seven others were made sick due to Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but deadly flesh-eating bacteria that seems to be plentiful in Florida's warm climate. The deaths occurred in four counties across the state. Flesh-eating bacteria are rare, with an average of 150 to 200 cases reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And as hurricane season continues to bear down on Florida, the number of infections could pick up as seawater is brought to the shores. Here's what you need to know. Where is flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus found? The bacteria is found in saltwater, brackish water and inside contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. It also lives naturally in coastal waters year-round. Vibrio vulnificus requires saltwater to live and spread, though it can thrive in brackish (slightly salty) water. For the most part, the bacterial infections usually occur in Gulf Coast states, but in recent years, reports of Vibrio vulnificus have started to be seen further North as climate change fuels warmer oceans. Where cases of flesh-eating bacteria have been found in Florida: In Florida, confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus were found in 10 counties, including four in the Panhandle — a frequent vacation destination. They are: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Duval County: 1 Escambia County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 Lee County: 1 Manatee County: 1 St. Johns County: 2 Santa Rosa County: 1 Walton County: 1 How can a person become infected with a flesh-eating bacterium? Infection can occur when people swallow contaminated water or if it gets into an open wound. People can also become infected due to contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish such as oysters. Why is Vibrio vulnificus called a flesh-eating bacteria? Healthy individuals usually experience only mild symptoms, but it can start eating away at flesh if it gets into an open wound and can cause necrotizing fasciitis, which causes the flesh around the wound to die. Some cases of exposure can turn deadly if necrotizing fasciitis happens or if the bacteria enters the bloodstream. "Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time," according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, about one in five people die from the infection, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Others could require surgery or even amputation after exposure. What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus? People who are exposed to it could experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, according to the CDC. If an open wound is exposed to Vibrio vulnificus, it can cause discoloration, swelling, skin breakdown and ulcers. How do I avoid exposure to flesh-eating bacteria? Here's what the CDC and Florida Department of Health recommend: Stay out of saltwater and brackish water if you have an open wound or cut. If you get a cut while you are in the water, leave the water immediately. Cover open wounds and cuts with a waterproof bandage if they could come in contact with salt water, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood. Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly. Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. Seek medical attention right away for infected wounds. Toxic algae blooms, found along Ohio beaches If you're vacationing a bit closer to home, be cautious of the beach you choose. According to the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio has 28 beach advisories currently, 24 for high bacteria levels and four for toxic algae blooms. The majority of the beach advisories for bacteria levels are along Lake Erie, but there are several at inland bodies of water. The algae bloom is happening at Grand Lake in Mercer and Auglaize counties in Western Ohio, and is affecting four public beaches there. Contributing: USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Florida has a rare flesh-eating bacteria. Which counties to avoid Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thinking of heading to Florida? Flesh-eating bacteria has been found in these counties
Tennesseans planning on squeezing in a last-minute vacation to Florida before the start of school should be aware of a rare "flesh-eating" bacteria. Florida health officials announced on July 11 that four people had died and at least seven others were made sick due to Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but deadly flesh-eating bacteria that seems to be plentiful in the warm climate in Florida. The deaths occurred in four different counties across the state. It is rare, with an average of 150 to 200 cases reported each year to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And as hurricane season continues to bear down on Florida, the number of infections could pick up as seawater is brought to the shores. Here's what you need to know. Where is Vibrio vulnificus or the flesh-eating bacteria found? The bacteria is found in saltwater, brackish water and inside contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. It also lives naturally in coastal waters year-round. Vibrio vulnificus requires saltwater to live and spread, though it can thrive in brackish water. For the most part, the bacterial infections usually occur in Gulf Coast states, but in recent years, reports of Vibrio vulnificus have started to be seen further North as climate change fuels warmer oceans. Where case of flesh-eating bacteria have been found in Florida: In Florida, confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus were found in 10 counties, including four in the Panhandle — a frequent vacation destination for Nashville residents. They are: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Duval County: 1 Escambia County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 Lee County: 1 Manatee County: 1 St. Johns County: 2 Santa Rosa County: 1 Walton County: 1 How can a person become infected with a flesh-eating bacterium? Infection can occur when people swallow contaminated water or if it gets into an open wound. People can also become infected due to contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish such as oysters. Why is Vibrio vulnificus called a flesh-eating bacteria? Healthy individuals usually experience only mild symptoms, but it can start eating away at flesh if it gets into an open wound and can cause necrotizing fasciitis. This causes the flesh around the wound to die. Some cases of exposure can turn deadly if this happens or it enters the bloodstream. "Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time," according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, about one in five people die from the infection, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Others could require surgery or even amputation after exposure. What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus? People who are exposed to it could experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, according to the CDC. If an open wound is exposed to Vibrio vulnificus, it can cause discoloration, swelling, skin breakdown and ulcers. How do I avoid exposure to flesh-eating bacteria? Here's what the CDC and Florida Department of Health recommend: Stay out of saltwater and brackish water if you have an open wound or cut. If you get a cut while you are in the water, leave the water immediately. If your open wounds and cuts could come in contact with salt water, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood, cover them with a waterproof bandage. Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly. Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. Seek medical attention right away for infected wounds. Contributing: USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Florida has a rare flesh-eating bacteria. Which counties to avoid Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Flesh-eating bacteria kill four in Florida after terrifying surge in infections... how to stay safe
Health officials have issued an urgent warning over deadly, flesh-eating bacteria spreading on beaches across the US. The Florida Department of Health announced this week that four residents have died from vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters. Another nine cases have been confirmed this year, the department said. Last year, 82 cases and 19 deaths occurred in the state, which officials said is due to the impact of Hurricane Ian. Deaths this year occurred in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough and St Johns counties, all of which are found on the Florida coasts. No further information has been released about the victims. Vibrio vulnificus enters the body through even the smallest of scrapes, infiltrating the bloodstream. From there, it releases enzymes and toxins that break down proteins, fats and collagen, destroying skin and muscle tissue. It also evades the immune system's defenses while triggering a widespread inflammatory response that causes even more tissue damage. Reduced blood flow to the infected area worsens this damage, ultimately leading to the death of tissue beneath the skin. This results in amputations to try and cut away the infection or, in severe cases, death. Vibrio requires warm water to grow and proliferate, making the southern coasts prime breeding grounds. However, colder regions are becoming gradually more hospitable as ocean temperatures rise, attracting and nurturing colonies of the bacteria. Vibrio infections have been confirmed on the East coast, Alaska, the Baltic Sea, and Chile, which scientists now believe could be the next hotspots. The CDC has not issued an annual report on vibrio in the US since 2019, when 2,685 infections were reported. Previous reviews on East Coast states from 1988 through 2018 showed vibrio wound infections increased eightfold, from about 10 cases to more than 80 annually. Vibrio vulnificus can also infect a person who eats raw or undercooked shellfish, causing painful abdominal cramps and diarrhea, and, in cases where the bacteria enter the bloodstream, sepsis and death. The CDC estimates that 80,000 Americans are infected with vibrio every year, although there are only 1,200 to 2,000 confirmed cases annually, as it is often misdiagnosed. Vibriosis, the infection caused by the bacteria, is typically treated with antibiotics, specifically doxycycline and ceftazidime. Once the bacteria reach the bloodstream, the infection is fatal about 50 percent of the time. The threat from the insidious bacteria is only growing, scientists say. Sky-high seafood consumption around the world, using coastal waters for recreational activities, and the compounding effects of global climate change are setting humans up to see a marked increase in both reported cases and fatalities in the near future,' according to scientists from the UK and Spain. The vast majority of vibrio infections have occurred in Florida, tied to post-hurricane flooding, and Texas, largely due to fishing and oyster harvesting injuries, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The Florida Department of Health warned residents: 'Water and wounds do not mix. Do not enter the water if you have fresh cuts or scrapes.' Officials also urged people who are immunocompromised to wear protective footwear to prevent cuts or injuries on the beach.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Urgent summer holiday warning as cases of highly contagious ‘bull-neck' infection spread rapidly across Europe
HEALTH officials have issued a warning over a highly contagious bacterial infection spreading through Europe that strikes victims with a telltale "bull neck". A total of 234 diphtheria cases have been reported in European countries since January 2023, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 1 Diphtheria can be a serious illness that sometimes turns fatal, especially in children, if it's not treated quickly. It causes a thick grey-white coating at the back of the throat, nose and tongue, and fever. More severe cases can lead to a characteristic swollen neck and throat, or "bull neck." This can make it hard for the person to breathe properly. If the disease affects the skin, it can cause pus-filled blisters on the legs, feet and hands, as well as large ulcers surrounded by red, sore-looking skin. Diphtheria is thought to be rare in Europe and the UK, with cases falling steadily since the 1950s after the introduction of vaccines. Between 2009 and 2020, an average of 21 cases were reported each year in Europe. But "a marked shift occurred in 2022", as 320 cases - two of them probable - were detected in European countries, the ECDC wrote in recent report. "Similar trends" were also reported in the UK, according to the health watchdog. "Ten European countries were affected by this outbreak, with Germany, Austria, the UK, Switzerland and France reporting the highest case numbers," the ECDC said. The outbreak was "mainly linked to groups of migrants who had recently arrived in Europe" and been exposed to diphtheria on their journey, it added. Since then, the number of diphtheria cases in Europe has "consistently declined", but the ECDC warned that infections were still being reported - especially among vulnerable people. A total of 165 cases were flagged to the ECDC in 2023, 56 in 2024 and 13 so far into 2025. "Published data and recent personal communications indicate that after the 2022 outbreak, Corynebacterium diphtheriae continued to circulate in at least five EU/EEA countries and in Switzerland," the health watchdog said. "A significant proportion of these cases has been among people more vulnerable to diphtheria," it added. These include people experiencing homelessness, people living, working or volunteering in transitional housing centres, migrants, and those who use and inject drugs. Bruno Ciancio, head of ECDC's unit for directly-transmitted and vaccine-preventable diseases, said: "The fact that we see diphtheria infections acquired by vulnerable populations in the EU/EEA indicates ongoing unnoticed transmission in the community. "This is a cause for concern, and calls for more intense efforts to address barriers to vaccination among these vulnerable groups. "Effective vaccination programmes have helped to almost eliminate diphtheria, but this also means that healthcare workers may be less likely to recognise the symptoms. "Increasing awareness of symptoms, quick diagnosis and prompt public health action are essential." The ECDC noted the risk of catching diphtheria remained low for the general population, thanks to high vaccination coverage in most European countries. But for vulnerable people, it upped the risk to moderate. "There could be sporadic cases among groups more vulnerable to infection and pockets of unvaccinated individuals," the health watchdog said. It added that Germany in particular had "reported an increase in diphtheria cases with respiratory presentation, raising concerns about more severe clinical manifestations, and possibly wider community spread". In places with high vaccines coverage, most diphtheria infections don't cause symptoms or are mild. But respiratory diphtheria - when the infections affects the nose and throat - can kill up to 10 per cent of its victims, the ECDC said. Diphtheria is mostly spread by coughs, sneezing or close contact. You can, however, also get it from sharing items such as cups, clothing or bedding with an infected person. In the UK, babies and children have been routinely vaccinated against diphtheria since the 1940s. A case of the highly contagious disease was spotted in a UK primary school in 2023. In 2022, 87 people in England were infected with the disease. This fell to 27 in 2023.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cryptosporidium: Infections from Cowbridge petting farm reach 89
The number of people who have contracted a parasitic infection after attending calf and lamb feeding sessions at a farm in south Wales has risen to have been eight new cases of cryptosporidium confirmed by Public Health Wales (PHW), all linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, during March and previously said the infection led to 16 people requiring hospital care for at least one night, including a four-year-old farm shop, which the BBC has approached for comment, voluntarily suspended its feeding and petting sessions on 29 April and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, PHW said. Cryptosporidium is commonly associated with contact with farm animals, and can spread easily from person to person and poses increased risk to young children and those with weakened immune typically appear two to 10 days after exposure and can last for up to two warned infection can still spread after symptoms subside and has urged those affected not to go swimming for two Mably, consultant in health protection at PHW, said: "Cryptosporidium usually clears up on its own, but it can cause more serious illness in young children and people with weaker immune systems."She added that the infection can be spread from person to person and the key is "washing your hands properly". Officials from PHW and other agencies met on 24 May for the fifth time since the outbreak began, to co-ordinate the to petting farms are being reminded to avoid close contact with animals, supervise children closely, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after touching animals or walking around a hand gels do not provide sufficient women are also being advised to steer clear of new-born lambs during lambing season due to a higher risk of infection. What is cryptosporidium? Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous illness called lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals and is passed out in their can then spread to water sources such as lakes, rivers, and swimming pools, as well as food like raw illness can affect anyone but is most common in children aged one to which can last for around two weeks, include severe watery diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, and loss of is no specific treatment but most people feel better within a month.
