Deadly bacteria kills 5 in Louisiana in sharp rise from past years

Key Points:

• Louisiana has reported a significant increase in deaths from Vibrio vulnificus, a "flesh-eating" bacteria, with five fatalities and nine cases this year compared to an average of one death annually.
• The bacteria, found in warm coastal waters, can cause severe infections when contaminated seawater enters open wounds or through consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
• People with existing medical conditions, especially those who are immunocompromised or have chronic liver disease, are at higher risk of severe illness, which can include symptoms like fever, skin infections, and in extreme cases, necrotizing fasciitis.
• Health officials advise avoiding entering warm saltwater with open wounds, refraining from eating raw shellfish, and using protective gloves when handling raw seafood to prevent infection.
• Diagnosis involves culturing stool, wounds, or blood samples, with treatment ranging from increased hydration for mild cases to antibiotics and possibly surgery for severe infections; the infection can be fatal in about 20% of cases, sometimes within days.