Vibrio Vulnificus Kills 7 in Florida and Louisiana as 25 Cases Hit Gulf Coast
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 17
Vibrio Vulnificus Kills 7 in Florida and Louisiana as 25 Cases Hit Gulf Coast
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 17
Summary
Seven deaths have been reported from Vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida and Louisiana this year, alongside 25 confirmed cases—15 in Florida and 10 in Louisiana.
The bacteria thrive in warm saltwater and brackish water, especially from May to October, and typically infect people through open wounds or by eating raw or undercooked seafood such as oysters.
Vibrio vulnificus can trigger fever, vomiting, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions; severe wound infections may progress to necrotizing fasciitis, requiring surgery and sometimes limb amputation.
CDC guidance urges people to avoid raw seafood, keep open wounds out of saltwater or brackish water, use waterproof bandages if exposure is unavoidable, and wash exposed wounds thoroughly with soap and water.
The CDC estimates Vibrio bacteria cause about 80,000 illnesses annually in the U.S., and roughly 1 in 5 people with Vibrio vulnificus infection die, sometimes within a day or two.