Experts advise avoiding raw seafood if you have a compromised immune system, as the bacteria is commonly found in shellfish
NEED TO KNOW
- A fourth person in Florida has died after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria linked to raw seafood
- The bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters and can infect through open wounds or consumption of contaminated shellfish
- Experts advise eating oysters only in cooler months and avoiding improperly handled or unhealthy shellfish
A fourth person has died in Florida after contracting virulent bacteria that can cause a flesh-eating infection — commonly linked to eating raw seafood.
There have been 20 infections of Vibrio vulnificus in the state this year, according to data from the Florida Health Department. The most recent death was a resident of Broward County, aged between 75 and 79. Previous deaths were attributed to residents of Bay, Palm Beach, and Marion counties.
Vibrio is a bacteria that naturally lives in coastal waters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of people are sickened by it after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, namely oysters, because the bacteria will “concentrate” inside the shellfish. However, it can cause an infection if a swimmer has an open wound, recent tattoo or piercing.
The bacteria can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. But it’s earned the nickname “flesh-eating bacteria” due to the death of the skin around the cut where the bacteria entered the body…