A spike in the number of instances of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium that thrives in saltwater and brackish water (a mixture of salt and fresh water) and causes a disease known as vibriosis, has resulted in the deaths of four individuals and the illness of seven more.
According to the Florida Department of Health, while these figures are lower than they were the previous year, the year 2024 had an increase in the number of instances of vibriosis. This was a result of the effects of Hurricane Helene, which produced flooding and increased contact with polluted water. An increase of a comparable magnitude occurred in 2022, after Hurricane Ian.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vibrio are naturally found in the waterways that are found around the waterfront. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of persons who get ill with vibrio do so after consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters. This is because the bacteria will “concentrate” within the shellfish.
On the other hand, they are naturally found in brackish water and may induce an infection in a swimmer who has an open wound, as well as a tattoo or piercing made within the last few months.
People who are infected with vibrio will, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have “watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever.” This is the best case scenario for a vibrio infection.
The infections that affect the bloodstream and wounds are far more serious. They may result in “dangerously low” blood pressure, blisters on the skin, and necrotizing fasciitis, which is also frequently referred to as the flesh-eating disease. “Doctors may need to amputate a patient’s legs or arms in order to remove dead or infected tissue,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
An previous interview with WFLA revealed that Peter Volpi Jr., who survived a vibrio infection that he thinks was got by swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, described the anguish he had as “the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt.” He also said that he has been bedridden for many months as a result of his condition.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 80,000 instances of vibriosis per year, with 52,000 of those cases being caused by contaminated food.
