Flesh-eating bacteria has claimed the lives of 3 people in Tampa Bay. It’s been shown up the East Coast from Florida to North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York. The flesh-eating bacteria is known by the scientific name Vibrio vulnificus. It is a bacterium that causes septicemia, severe wound infections, and gastroenteritis. It claimed the lives of a total of 5 individuals in the state of Florida. Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm water where ocean and river water meet. It can also be transmitted through raw seafood like oysters and open wounds in the skin.
Some of the early signs and symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus are fever, chills, skin redness or rash development, fluid-filled blisters, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, or weakness. It gets its name from flesh-eating bacteria because of a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. In most cases, it’s harmless if you take the proper precautions to avoid and treat if infected. People with weakened immune systems have to take extra precautions and seek medical help if exposed to Vibrio vulnificus. Avoid entering the water if you have open cuts. If you have the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus you should drink lots of water to replace the water lost.
In some severe cases, you should seek medical attention. To further reduce your chances you should wash your hands after handling raw shellfish, avoid contaminating cooked food with unwashed hands, wash your wounds with warm water and soap, and properly wrap your wound with the proper medical equipment needed to close and disinfect the area. Places like Myrtle Beach, Tampa Bay, and Daytona Beach are very popular vacation destinations for people all over the country. Vibrio vulnificus cases are 100 to 200 reported cases per year in the United States. Take extra precautions and your family vacation should be perfect and safe.
