A flesh-eating bacterium has caused at least seven illnesses and four fatalities.
The deaths were claimed to have happened in the counties of Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. John, and health officials say the bacterium has been spreading throughout Florida (via CBS News).
Health officials warn of the potential risks of this bacteria in the summer, and in addition to the four persons who died, at least seven others have also become unwell.
Since 2016, there have been 448 cases in Florida linked to this bacteria, including 100 fatalities, according to CBS News. Other Florida counties, such as Santa Rosa and Manatee, have confirmed more cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria can be exposed through tainted water and by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, which “concentrates” inside the animal.
The CDC reports less severe gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps. The bacteria, vibrio vulunificus, thrives in saltwater and brackish water, which is a mixture of salt and fresh water.
The consequences can be far worse, though, if vibrio vulunificus enters a person’s bloodstream or infects an exposed wound. This can result in “dangerously low” blood pressure, skin blisters, and necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the flesh-eating disease.
In the worst situations, a physician could have to amputate a patient’s arms or leg in order to remove diseased or dead tissue.
According to the Florida Health Department, the number of infections is currently lower than it was a year ago, but they think that the effects of Hurricane Helene contributed to those numbers since flooding exposed more people to tainted water.
