Health officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters.
Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state's health department said last week in a news release. All were hospitalized, and five died. During the same period over the previous decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death.
"Seek medical care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm or discolored," officials said in the release. "Tell the health care provider about the water exposure."
Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons. Most infections are reported from May to October, and most happen in states along the Gulf Coast. Doctors say the Gulf is an ideal environment with the right amounts of salt and heat to let this organism proliferate.
The mostly deadly type is Vibrio vulnificus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As many as one in five of those infections are fatal, a much higher rate than other types of Vibrio bacteria.

#vibrio #bacteria #found

Taylor Farms has recalled salsa and guacamole products, citing salmonella risks.
The food producer said it is pulling over 12 prepared food items containing jalapeños from stores.
The recall follows a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms' iceberg lettuce last month.
Taylor Farms is recalling items, including salsa and guacamole, due to Salmonella risks, weeks after the company was linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak.
On Sunday, the fresh food producer said that it is pulling over a dozen prepared food items containing jalapeños from retail stores because of concerns over Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause painful food poisoning.

#taylor #salmonella #salsa #pulling

Five people have died in Louisiana from flesh-eating bacteria infections so far in 2026, state health officials said on August 6.
A total of nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria have been reported in 2026 in the state, the Louisiana Department of Health reported. All nine patients had underlying health conditions and were hospitalized after wounds had been exposed to seawater, officials said.
Vibrio vulnificus is often called "flesh-eating bacteria" because an infection can eat away at flesh around a wound. Infections can occur when an open wound is exposed to salt water or brackish water, where rivers meet the ocean and fresh water mixes with salt water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Louisiana health officials warned residents to take precautions to prevent infections because the bacterium's presence increases as coastal waters get warmer. Cases in Louisiana are higher than in past years, officials said. During the same period over the previous 10 years, Louisiana reported an annual average of seven cases and one death.
Florida recently reported its second Vibrio vulnificus infection death of the year.

#vibrio #water #flesh

A potentially deadly "flesh-eating" bacteria has killed five people in Louisiana this year, a sharp rise from the state's typical death toll.
Health officials are warning beachgoers to take extra precautions before heading into the water.
Vibrio vulnificus is part of a wider group of Vibrio bacteria. Found primarily in warm, coastal waters, it can cause serious, potentially life-threatening infections when contaminated seawater enters an open wound, according to the CDC.
Deadly Bacteria Found In Waters Near Luxury Vacation Destination Ahead Of Summer
Infections can also occur when someone eats raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters.

#found #waters #infections #Health

Health officials are investigating jalapenos served at Chipotle restaurants as a possible source of a recent salmonella outbreak, the company confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday.
Chipotle told ABC News the ingredient was distributed to several food service retailers across multiple states. The company said it removed the jalapenos from select restaurants.
'Sharp rise' in cyclosporiasis cases in UK linked to Mexico travel
"We have a robust ingredient traceability system and, upon learning of a potential Salmonella outbreak in the supply chain impacting several food service retailers, we proactively identified jalapenos as a potential common ingredient from a common lot, removed them from the restaurants where they had been distributed, and replaced them with product from different growers," Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, said in a statement.
Salmonella are bacteria that can cause a common foodborne illness called salmonellosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections tend to occur more in the summer, when warmer weather presents ideal conditions for the bacteria to grow, the agency states.

#Food

New York City's famed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was among a number of Manhattan buildings that recently tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease amid the city's latest outbreak.
The city health department on Friday released a list of 31 buildings on the Upper East Side that have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers as the city deals with the latest outbreak of the disease, which is a serious form of pneumonia.
The distinctive, cylindrical-shaped art museum was among 19 that have already completed the remediation, according to the department's list. The rest were expected to complete the work by Saturday.
City officials stressed the positive test results do not confirm any of the buildings as the source of outbreak as the tests conducted could not distinguish between live and dead bacteria.
The museum was also not shuttered at any point because of the positive test or remediation work, they said.

(NewsNation) — Your gut bacteria may influence hormone-related cancer risk, researchers say.
The bacteria living in your gut may play a much larger role in hormone-related cancers than scientists previously believed, according to a new review published in the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes.
Researchers ***** yzed existing studies examining how the gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live in the digestive tract — interacts with the body's hormone system.
While scientists have long known gut bacteria help regulate estrogen, the review suggests the microbiome acts as an active partner in hormone signaling, influencing inflammation, metabolism and immune responses that may affect cancer development.
New protein controls how the body stores, burns fat: study

Vaxcyte Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX) is one of the 8 Hidden Multibagger Stocks to Buy Now. On June 18, Mizuho Securities ******* yst Salim Syed reiterated a Buy rating on Vaxcyte Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX) with a price target of $163. The firm's price target reflects a significant 180% upside from current levels.
Earlier on June 16, PCVX announced an update regarding its ongoing clinical study. The company is conducting an early-stage clinical trial of VAX-A1, a vaccine designed to protect against Group A strep infections. The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of VAX-A1 in healthy young adults. The trial is testing three different dose levels of the vaccine against a placebo. It is administered via muscle injection and is designed to support the immune system.
If the trial shows positive results, the vaccine could allow the company to enter a new market for preventing Group A strep infections. This could boost investor confidence in the company and support the stock's valuation. However, disappointing results could increase concerns about the program and shift attention toward larger vaccine competitors such as Pfizer and GSK.
Vaxcyte Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX) is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company that develops conjugate and novel protein vaccines to prevent or treat bacterial infectious diseases. The company develops a variety of vaccines, and its major candidate is VAX-24. The company was formerly known as SutroVax, Inc. and changed its name to Vaxcyte, Inc. in May 2020. It was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in San Carlos, California.
While we acknowledge the potential of PCVX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Daveigh Chase -- who was the voice of Lilo in Disney's Lilo and Stitch and played Samara in The Ring among her many roles on screen -- died at the age of 35, per reports.
What was Chase's cause of death? TMZ reported that her boyfriend Roy Hernandez said she "died Tuesday from meningitis and an infection in her blood, which caused her to have septic issues and led to her body shutting down." The site also reports she had been in a Los Angeles hospital earlier in June due to "malnutrition."
Sending good thoughts to her family and loved ones.
Per the Cleveland Clinic:
Meningitis makes the protective layers surrounding your brain and spinal cord swell. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and noninfectious conditions can cause meningitis. Common symptoms include fever, neck stiffness and light sensitivity.

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - The United States imposed additional visa restrictions Monday on ‌more than 100 Nicaraguan officials and ‌their family members over the death of indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera.
"The United States will not ignore the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship's responsibility for the horrific death of political prisoner Brooklyn Rivera," Secretary ‌of State Marco ⁠Rubio said in a statement.
Rivera, a former lawmaker, died in state ⁠custody at age 73 in May, Nicaragua's health ministry said.
Rivera, who had been detained since 2023, died from bacteria generated by COVID-19, Nicaragua's ‌health ministry said on May 31.
Reports of his death elicited outrage from human rights groups who said he had been subject to arbitrary detention and was a victim ‌of political persecution.

We recently compiled a list of the 11 Most Undervalued Pharma Stocks to Invest In. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) is one of the most undervalued stocks in the pharma sector.
TheFly reported on May 7 that GSK launched a public health awareness initiative under its Ask2BSure campaign, introducing Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell as campaign advocates to promote education around meningococcal disease, also known as meningitis. The effort encourages parents to better understand infection risks and discuss vaccination with healthcare providers.
The campaign includes an educational video ****** led The Mening-Itinerary, which illustrates everyday teen environments such as dorms, gyms, and social gatherings where bacterial transmission may occur. The content also highlights survivor experiences and aims to address gaps in parental awareness about disease risk and prevention. The initiative is designed to strengthen public understanding of meningitis and support informed vaccination decisions through storytelling and outreach.
Expanding its global commercial footprint, on May 11, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) entered into an exclusive strategic collaboration with Sino Biopharmaceutical’s subsidiary Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group to accelerate the launch and commercialization of bepirovirsen in mainland China. Bepirovirsen is an investigational first-in-class therapy for chronic hepatitis B and is currently under priority regulatory review in China. The partnership combines GSK’s research and development capabilities with CTTQ’s established liver disease franchise and extensive hospital access network across thousands of medical centers.
Under the agreement, CTTQ will manage importation, distribution, and promotional activities in China, while GSK retains global regulatory, safety, and medical oversight responsibilities. The collaboration also includes potential evaluation of select early-stage ****** ets for future partnership opportunities beyond China.

A box full of viruses and bacteria has completed its return trip to the International **** e Station, and the changes these 'bugs' experienced in their travels could help us Earthlings tackle drug-resistant infections.
A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and US biotech company Rhodium Scientific Inc. pitted Escherichia coli bacteria against its viral arch-nemesis, the T7 bacteriophage. This pair has been locked in an evolutionary 'arms race' for as long as we've been looking, but never in microgravity – until they were sent to the ISS in 2020.
Related: The ISS Has

Ubiquitous industrial chemicals and pesticides have a "toxic effect" on germs that play a key role in maintaining human health and could be a threat to male reproductive health, according to two teams of scientists.
"Many chemicals designed to act only on one type of target, say insects or fungi, also affect gut bacteria," says the University of Cambridge’s Indra Roux, whose team’s probe of more than 1,000 potential contaminants found 168 that are likely a danger to the human microbiome.
"Most of these chemicals had not been previously reported to have antibacterial properties," the research

Scientists led by researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago have developed a new type of fuel cell that can be harvested from dirt. This dirt fuel could provide essentially endless electricity, eliminating waste and harmful effects of other sources of fuel.
In a study published in January, the researchers outlined their findings regarding harvesting electricity from microbes, tiny organisms such as bacteria or fungi, living in the dirt.
With this new type of fuel cell, scientists hope to harness sources of energy that could act as a replacement for batteries, which can release toxi

First the plant stalk is harvested, shredded, and crushed. The extracted juice is then combined with bacteria and yeast in large bioreactors, where the sugars are metabolized and converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. From there, the liquid is typically distilled to maximize ethanol concentration, before it is blended with gasoline.
You know the final products as biofuels — mostly made from food crops like sugarcane and corn, and endorsed by everyone from agricultural lobbyists to activists and billionaires. Biofuels were developed decades ago to be cheaper, greener alternatives to planet

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Chinese researchers say a new kind of bacteria-packed pill can quickly detect gastrointestinal disease and has the potential to replace invasive colonoscopies in screening for ulcerative colitis and other gut maladies.
The results of a mouse study published this week in an American Chemical Society journal are raising hopes that timely and accurate diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis and Crohn's disease could be performed non-invasively in the future.
Colonoscopies, in which a flexible tube fitted with a camera is inserted into the *****

Is it true that double-dipping can spread germs?

Yes, double-dipping can transmit bacteria and viruses from your mouth to the shared bowl. But in most cases, that might not be as risky as it seems.