A the bacterial infection has killed at least eight people in Florida this year so far, health officials recently reported. Twenty people in the state in general have been sickened by water-borne bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, a relative of cholera famously known to sometimes cause a meat-eating infection.
Vibrio bacteria are found abundantly in marine environments and brackish waters. Harmful species of Vibrio, included V. vulnificus, usually make us sick when we eat naturally contaminated or undercooked seafood or drink water contaminated by the feces of other infected people, the latter being a common problem in countries with poor sanitation. These infections cause gastrointestinal symptoms, especially diarrhea.
But V. vulnificus it also has the unfortunate ability to cause necrosis fasciitis when found in open wounds: an infection that spreads rapidly and begins to kill the underlying skin and muscle already a day after exposure (hence its charming nickname of “fleshy disease”). The infection can cause a life-threatening immune response called sepsis that requires immediate treatment. Even with treatment, one in five victims dies, while survivors may be left with large scars or amputated limbs.
There are many species of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis, but in Florida, V. vulnificus has been a persistent, though very rare, source of these nocturnal infections.
According to the Florida Department of Health, they are known to have 20 people contracted V. vulnificus in the state this year in early September. Eight have died as a result, and the latest death was confirmed Friday by Leon County officials, seconds and Outbreak News Today.
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Wound infections by V. vulnificus they are believed to be more common during the summer months, when there are more people outside nedant. Therefore, the meat consumption season may end soon. That said, it’s the highest number of deaths recorded in Florida since 2018, which recorded nine deaths.
Necrotizing fasciitis is very rare in general. But some scientists concern that these infections could be converted most common in the coming years, in part thanks to climate change. Warmer water temperatures, higher sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events that cause flooding are risk factors that will likely expose us to V. vulnificus more often. So yes, you just have to think.