Flesh-eating bacteria have wreaked havoc in the United States after causing numerous fatalities. Eight people’s lives have reportedly been lost as a result of the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, according to media sources.
At least twelve deaths have reportedly been caused by the pathogen this year. Seafood that is uncooked or undercooked, as well as seawater and brackish water, can all contain flesh-eating bacteria.
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In Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, two people have died as a result of the bacteria since January, according to the Florida Department of Health. According to local media sources, there have been a total of 26 instances reported in Florida this year.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York stated in a statement that the virus was found in a victim who passed away in Long Island.
Although it is uncommon, Hochul noted that the vibrio bacteria has unluckily reached this area and can be extremely harmful. Additionally, New York’s health authorities are currently looking into how the Long Island sufferer contracted the disease.
Three persons between the ages of 60 and 80 were exposed to the bacteria in Connecticut last month, and two of them reportedly passed away.
What is flesh-eating bacteria, often known as Vibrio vulnificus?
Pathogenic bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus can lead to vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year in the United States, vibriosis causes 80,000 infections and 100 fatalities.
According to the CDC, swallowing raw or undercooked seafood or exposing a wound to seawater are the two main ways that people contract vibriosis. The majority of infections, according to the US health authorities, take place from May through October when the water is warmer.
It’s interesting to note that Vibrio vulnificus is connected to Vibrio cholerae, the germ that causes cholera.
Why is Vibrio vulnificus referred to as a “flesh-eating bacteria”?
Although Vibrio vulnificus does not consume tissue, if it enters the body through a cut or wound, it can cause necrotizing fasciitis. The flesh around the infection site dies in necrotizing fasciitis.
The CDC reports that some Vibrio vulnificus infections can cause fatal wound infections in which the tissue surrounding an open wound degenerates.
In addition, many sick people would require intensive care or limb amputations. According to the CDC, around 1 in 5 people who contract the virus pass away, sometimes just a day or two after falling unwell.
What signs indicate a flesh-eating bacterium infection?
The following signs and symptoms may appear as a result of germs entering the body:
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills with watery diarrhea
These symptoms often appear within 24 hours after consumption and linger for around 3 days, according to the CDC. Rare cases of severe disease often affect immune-compromised individuals.
“Vibrio bacteria may trigger a skin infection if an open wound gets exposed to salt water or brackish water,” it added.
What is the method of treating bacterial infection?
Treatment is not required for mild instances, according to the CDC. Patients should, however, consume a lot of liquids to make up for the fluids lost due to diarrhea.
The US health authorities also assert that antibiotics are occasionally needed in serious or protracted infections.
