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Fifth Person in Florida Dies of Flesh
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- A fifth person in Florida has died from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria linked to eating raw seafood, as 23 cases have been reported statewide this year.
- The Florida Department of Health has connected many infections to contaminated oysters, which can concentrate the bacteria naturally found in coastal waters.
- Florida experienced a severe Vibrio outbreak in 2024, with 82 illnesses and 19 deaths, highlighting the ongoing public health risk.
- Symptoms of Vibrio infection include flu-like signs and severe skin damage near infection sites, and the bacteria can also infect open wounds exposed to seawater.
- Health officials advise avoiding raw shellfish, especially oysters, and recommend thoroughly cooking shellfish to prevent infection, with experts noting increased Vibrio risks during warmer months.
