2 months ago
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
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
2 months ago
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 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
2 months ago
Florida health officials confirmed on Thursday that a second person has died in the state from the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus. The second death was reported in Marion County, and the first was reported in Palm Beach County. It marks the second death in the U.S. this year.
There have been 14 other cases confirmed across Florida, according to the state's health department. Elsewhere, there have been a total of six confirmed cases in Alabama, while Connecticut detected a case in February, according to state public health departments.
They come as Stony Brook University announced new research in April, finding that some bays and waterways off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., have developed the right conditions for Vibrio vulnificus to thrive.
Vibrio vulnificus cases are considered rare, with between 100 and 200 infections reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, many people with an infection can become seriously ill, requiring intensive care or limb amputation. "About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Infections caused by other Vibrio species are much more common, with about 80,000 cases of vibriosis per year.
#vibrio #cases #Florida
There have been 14 other cases confirmed across Florida, according to the state's health department. Elsewhere, there have been a total of six confirmed cases in Alabama, while Connecticut detected a case in February, according to state public health departments.
They come as Stony Brook University announced new research in April, finding that some bays and waterways off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., have developed the right conditions for Vibrio vulnificus to thrive.
Vibrio vulnificus cases are considered rare, with between 100 and 200 infections reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, many people with an infection can become seriously ill, requiring intensive care or limb amputation. "About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Infections caused by other Vibrio species are much more common, with about 80,000 cases of vibriosis per year.
#vibrio #cases #Florida
2 months ago
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 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
