There have been more illnesses and deaths from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, this year than in previous years in the Southern U.S. state of Louisiana.
The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions to prevent infection from the bacteria, which can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.
As of late July, 17 cases of vibrio have been reported among Louisiana residents this year. All of the patients were hospitalized, and four of the illnesses resulted in death. During the same time period over the previous 10 years, an average of seven vibrio cases and one death have been reported each year in Louisiana.
“Use caution when consuming raw or undercooked seafood, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders,” LDH said.
Additionally, the agency warned residents to stay out of brackish waters if they have wounds or scrapes and to wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or saltwater, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
“Avoid contaminating cooked seafood with raw seafood and their juices,” LDH advised.
LDH added that the majority of the cases in Louisiana this year stemmed from wound or seawater exposure, rather than seafood consumption.
Vibrio cases have risen in several areas around the country in recent years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that cases along the U.S. East Coast surged by 800 percent between 1988 and 2018, per WESH TV. Florida also had a record 83 infections last year.
Vibrio can cause gastrointestinal illness, wound infections, or blood poisoning.
Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. The bacteria naturally live in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer, LDH explained.
