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At least 14 people have died in the U.S. this year from a rare flesh-eating bacterium that typically lives in warm saltwater. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory in September suggesting that above-average coastal sea surface temperatures likely contributed to a northward spread of the potentially deadly bacteria, which are more common along the Gulf Coast. The CDC urges health care providers to be aware of possible infections and treat them promptly. In the Northeast, recent deaths caused by Vibrio vulnificus have regional officials urging residents who may not be as familiar with the infection and how it spreads to be safe.
In Connecticut, two adults 60 to 80 years old died after being infected by V. vulnificus in July. They were apparently exposed to salt or brackish water — a mix of fresh water and saltwater — in Long Island Sound. Both had cuts or wounds where the pathogen could have entered their bodies. This year, the Florida Department of Health has recorded seven deaths among 33 confirmed cases of V. vulnificus. The Galveston County Health District in Texas reported a death in September of a man who had eaten raw oysters. North Carolina reported three deaths in July. New York also reported a death in July.
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What is Vibrio vulnificus?
V. vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria that thrives in warm, brackish seawater such as the Gulf of Mexico. It can be found in higher concentrations from May to October when the weather is warmer, according to the New York State Department of Health.
What are the symptoms of vibriosis?
Common symptoms of vibriosis, the illness caused by a vibrio infection, include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and chills. Infected wounds often are red, swollen and painful. Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 24 hours and can last one to seven days. Most people infected with vibriosis will recover on their own; however, severe illness may result in hospitalization or death. It is important to seek prompt medical attention, according to the New York State Department of Health.
How does it spread?
There are two known routes for human infection. The bacteria can enter the body through open wounds when a person swims, wades or walks in warm marine waters where V. vulnificus thrives.
People can also be infected by consuming raw shellfish, particularly oysters, that come from warm coastal waters during the summer months. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.
How infectious is it?
Infections are rare. Vibriosis is typically mild but can be dangerous especially for older adults who have developed a chronic condition (such as liver or kidney disease) or have a weakened immune system, according to the CDC. Those who take stomach-acid reducers may also be at increased risk because stomach acid helps kill harmful germs.
Most reported infections in the U.S. have been from the Gulf Coast region. Since 2007, Florida has averaged 37 infections and nine deaths annually.
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