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Doctors warn of Chesapeake Bay flesh-eating bacteria
WBAL-TV • • health
Key Points:
- Cases of flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, are increasing this summer in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, with 72 people treated for the infection so far.
- The bacteria thrive in water temperatures of 60 degrees or warmer and can infect broken skin or be contracted by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, potentially leading to severe tissue damage, sepsis, amputation, or death.
- Health officials advise avoiding water exposure with open wounds, using waterproof bandages, wearing protective gear when handling shellfish, and showering immediately after swimming in natural waters to reduce infection risk.
- Although the infection is serious, medical treatment is available and effective if sought promptly; no deaths have been reported this year in Maryland, unlike last year when 11 fatalities occurred.
- Experts emphasize that infections from recreational water activities in Maryland are rare, but vigilance and preventive measures are crucial during warmer months.
