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By: The opinion Posted Aug 21, 2023, 18:50 pm EDT
The Florida Department of Health reports that so far this year there have been 26 cases of people infected with the dangerous bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, known as the “meat eater.”five of which were fatal.
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium found in warm seawater and can enter the bloodstream through fresh cuts and scrapes, indicated the Department of Health of this southern state.
Since last January, the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, which can also be found in raw or undercooked shellfish, has killed two people in Hillsborough County, according to the report.
The remaining three deaths from the rare bacteria occurred in Polk, Pasco and Sarasota counties.
All of these counties, except Polk, are located on the Florida coast that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico.
About 100 cases of Vibrio are reported in the United States each year, according to experts, and about a third of reported cases are fatal. https://t.co/u9GwqFAGnV
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This year, according to official reports, three other deaths have been reported in other states, including one in New York and two in Connecticut.
Infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus are rare and more serious than most. According to the government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)one in three people infected with this bacterium dies.
According to CBS News, each year between 100 and 200 cases of infections caused by this bacterium are reported in the United States.
While most who get vibrosis will recover in about three days with no long-term effects, a small percentage of those who contract it require intensive care or even amputation, the CDC said.
Last year, Florida reported 17 deaths and 74 cases, but those numbers were “abnormally high.” due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian, the Florida Department of Health noted in its report.
Vibrio vulnificus especially affects the elderly or older people with immune system problems and can only be fought with antibiotics.
For all these reasons, the health authorities recommend that people with a weak immune system wear sandals or slippers on the beach, especially when climbing rocks.
Doctors advise, for their part, to refrain from eating raw shellfish, especially oysters, and not to bathe in the sea or brackish water with recent wounds or cuts on the skin to avoid any possibility of contagion.