(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) As the American coastline continues to be battered by hurricanes, including the latest Ian, state health departments have warned of the increased frequency of a flesh-eating bacteria in flood waters.
The bacteria is called Vibrio vulnificus, and is typically found in warm sea water. But with the turbulence of the recent storms, the bacteria has been increasingly found on the shore, including in raw oysters, the Daily Mail reported.
The bacteria also gets into sea creatures, particularly shellfish, when the water filters through them.
According to another Daily Mail report, a Texas man in his 30s recently died as a result of Vibrio vulnificus, which he contracted as a result of consuming raw oysters.
At least 12 Americans have died from Vibrio infections this year. A typical year includes zero to one deaths from the bacteria. Out of the 12 deaths, eight have been in Florida, two in Connecticut and one in New York.
“I think everyone should be cautious and should be aware of their own personal risks,” Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief medical officer for Lee Health System, told WINK. He advised for people with open wounds to stay clear of possibly tainted waters.
According to Dr. Philip Keiser, a medical expert from the Galveston County Health Department, “These infections, once they take hold, can spread extremely rapidly — like a fire.”
Scientists believe that with sea temperatures warming, the disease could spread to all coastal states in the coming years.
The side effects of the infection include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and blood infection, to go along with the flesh-rotting properties.
Health officials did note that the man who recently died, however, had an underlying liver disease that made him particularly susceptible.
Humans can get the disease by consuming raw seafood, and also by exposure to waters that contain the bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three patients who get Vibrio do not survive.
