Health officials in Florida are warning the public after four people died from a flesh-eating bacteria. At least seven others have gotten sick.
The bacteria has been found in several counties including Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. John. Since 2016, there have been 448 cases and 100 deaths in the state according to CBS News.
Other counties like Santa Rosa and Manatee also reported cases. The concern tends to spike in summer when more people are in the water or eating seafood.
Experts say the bacteria, vibrio vulnificus, can be caught by swimming in contaminated saltwater or brackish water. It can also come from eating raw or undercooked shellfish where the bacteria builds up inside.
The CDC says it might cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps in mild cases. But if it enters through a wound or gets into the bloodstream, it can turn into something much worse.
People can get dangerously low blood pressure, skin blisters, or necrotizing fasciitis, which is what people usually call flesh-eating disease. In serious cases, doctors may have to amputate limbs.
The Florida Health Department said infections are down compared to last year. But they also said flooding from Hurricane Helene probably made last year’s numbers higher.
A similar increase happened after Hurricane Ian, according to one report. When floods bring dirty water into contact with skin or wounds, the risk jumps.
Their website warns that people with ‘fresh cuts or scrapes’ or new tattoos or piercings should be extra careful. They said: “Individuals who are immunocompromised, e.g chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune system, should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells on the beach.”
To lower the risk, the CDC recommends eating cooked seafood and avoiding water exposure if you have an open wound. Also don’t let raw shellfish come into contact with anything already cooked.
Peter Volpi Jr is one person who got sick and spoke about what it did to him. Speaking with local news, he said it happened after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and said it was ‘the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt’ and he ended up stuck in bed for months.
