Researcher is holding Petri dish of Vibrio vulnificus (flesh-eating bacteria) – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Arpon Pongkasetkam
Following recent hurricanes, Florida health officials are reporting a rise in instances of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that may cause diseases that consume flesh.
According to data released by the Florida Department of Health on Friday, there is an increase in cases in a number of counties. As stated on its website, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties have seen a “unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.”
This year, the state has recorded 74 incidents, 13 of which have resulted in fatalities. In contrast, there were 46 cases and 11 fatalities recorded the previous year.
Ahead to Hurricane Milton, the health service advised locals to take preventative measures against Vibrio infections, such as staying away from floodwaters, which present a number of health hazards.
In an advisory earlier this month, the government stated that “Vibrio bacteria, commonly found in warm coastal waters, can cause illness when ingested or when open wounds are exposed to contaminated water.” “After heavy rainfall and flooding, the concentration of these bacteria may rise, particularly in brackish and saltwater environments.”
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are about 100 Vibrio cases recorded in the US annually, but the precise number is unknown because individuals with minor illnesses are not tested. A third or so of instances that are reported end in death.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a condition caused by certain Vibrio vulnificus infections and is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies.”
This form of infection is frequently referred to as “flesh-eating bacteria,” although necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by other bacterial species, according to the CDC’s website.
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus
The CDC states that while symptoms can vary based on the type of illness, diarrhea, which is frequently accompanied by cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever, is one of them.
For bloodstream infections, signs include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Low blood pressure
- Blistering skin lesions
For wound infections, which can spread to the rest of the body, signs include:
- Fever
- Redness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Discoloration
- Discharge or leaking fluids
According to the CDC, an infection is identified when Vibrio bacteria are discovered in a person’s wound, blood, or feces. “Doctors may need to amputate a patient’s legs or arms to remove dead or infected tissue,” the CDC states on its website, although medications can be used to cure these illnesses.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
