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Eighth person dies from flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters in US
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- An eighth death from Vibrio vulnificus infection, a flesh-eating bacteria linked to contaminated seawater and oysters, was reported in Bay County, Florida, in 2024.
- Florida has recorded three deaths and Louisiana five, with nearly 30 confirmed cases across Gulf Coast states, including a higher-than-usual nine cases in Louisiana.
- Vibrio bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters from May to October and are commonly found in raw shellfish; infections can cause severe symptoms, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
- High-risk individuals include those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or those taking immune-suppressing medications; infections can lead to septic shock, tissue death, amputations, or death.
- Health officials recommend avoiding raw shellfish, protecting open wounds from seawater, and wearing protective clothing, particularly after flooding events linked to hurricanes that may increase infection risk.
