2 days ago
Flesh-eating bacteria kill four in Florida after terrifying surge in infections... how to stay safe
Health officials have issued an urgent warning over deadly, flesh-eating bacteria spreading on beaches across the US.
The Florida Department of Health announced this week that four residents have died from vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters.
Another nine cases have been confirmed this year, the department said. Last year, 82 cases and 19 deaths occurred in the state, which officials said is due to the impact of Hurricane Ian.
Deaths this year occurred in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough and St Johns counties, all of which are found on the Florida coasts.
No further information has been released about the victims.
Vibrio vulnificus enters the body through even the smallest of scrapes, infiltrating the bloodstream. From there, it releases enzymes and toxins that break down proteins, fats and collagen, destroying skin and muscle tissue.
It also evades the immune system's defenses while triggering a widespread inflammatory response that causes even more tissue damage. Reduced blood flow to the infected area worsens this damage, ultimately leading to the death of tissue beneath the skin.
This results in amputations to try and cut away the infection or, in severe cases, death.
Vibrio requires warm water to grow and proliferate, making the southern coasts prime breeding grounds.
However, colder regions are becoming gradually more hospitable as ocean temperatures rise, attracting and nurturing colonies of the bacteria.
Vibrio infections have been confirmed on the East coast, Alaska, the Baltic Sea, and Chile, which scientists now believe could be the next hotspots.
The CDC has not issued an annual report on vibrio in the US since 2019, when 2,685 infections were reported.
Previous reviews on East Coast states from 1988 through 2018 showed vibrio wound infections increased eightfold, from about 10 cases to more than 80 annually.
Vibrio vulnificus can also infect a person who eats raw or undercooked shellfish, causing painful abdominal cramps and diarrhea, and, in cases where the bacteria enter the bloodstream, sepsis and death.
The CDC estimates that 80,000 Americans are infected with vibrio every year, although there are only 1,200 to 2,000 confirmed cases annually, as it is often misdiagnosed.
Vibriosis, the infection caused by the bacteria, is typically treated with antibiotics, specifically doxycycline and ceftazidime.
Once the bacteria reach the bloodstream, the infection is fatal about 50 percent of the time.
The threat from the insidious bacteria is only growing, scientists say.
Sky-high seafood consumption around the world, using coastal waters for recreational activities, and the compounding effects of global climate change are setting humans up to see a marked increase in both reported cases and fatalities in the near future,' according to scientists from the UK and Spain.
The vast majority of vibrio infections have occurred in Florida, tied to post-hurricane flooding, and Texas, largely due to fishing and oyster harvesting injuries, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
The Florida Department of Health warned residents: 'Water and wounds do not mix. Do not enter the water if you have fresh cuts or scrapes.'
Officials also urged people who are immunocompromised to wear protective footwear to prevent cuts or injuries on the beach.
