An outbreak of a rare disease caused by the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus has been reported in Louisiana and Florida, ABC News reports. According to the network, more than 25 people have been infected along the Gulf Coast since the beginning of the year.
Ten cases have been confirmed in Louisiana and 15 in Florida. Seven patients have died: five in Louisiana and two in Florida.
These flesh-eating bacteria thrive in salt and brackish water. They are most active from May to October, when the water is warm. Infection can occur through open wounds or by consuming raw seafood, including oysters.
Genevieve Gallagher, a Florida resident, lost part of her leg after a boat trip in Pensacola Bay. She strongly advises against swimming if there are even minor breaks in the skin.
“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Your life isn’t worth it,” she said, as quoted by the outlet.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, notes that the risk is higher for people with weakened immune systems. Key symptoms of infection include high fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and skin lesions. In severe cases, the bacterium causes necrotizing fasciitis—tissue death that necessitates amputation.
According to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five infected individuals dies. Death can occur within a day or two of the onset of symptoms. To stay safe, doctors recommend covering wounds with waterproof bandages and washing hands after handling shellfish.
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