CDC Issues Health Alert for Flesh-Eating Bacteria Vibrio vulnificus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a national health alert, urging healthcare providers to be vigilant for cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria. The alert follows recent reports of fatal infections caused by this bacteria, including both wound and foodborne infections. The CDC is specifically advising healthcare professionals to consider V. vulnificus as a potential cause for infected wounds that were exposed to coastal waters, particularly in areas near the Gulf of Mexico or the East Coast, and during times of warmer coastal sea surface temperatures.
The health alert was prompted by an increase in vibrio infections, which have resulted in eight deaths, five of which occurred in Florida. On an annual basis, the CDC reports approximately 80,000 people infected and 100 deaths related to some form of vibrio. These infections, known as vibriosis, are caused by bacteria that naturally occur in warm salt or brackish water, such as bay or gulf waters. Consuming raw or undercooked contaminated seafood, especially oysters, can also lead to vibriosis. In rare cases, the bacteria can infect the skin through open wounds exposed to warm seawater, including wounds from surgeries, piercings, tattoos, or routine cuts and scrapes.
The risk of vibrio infections can also be elevated during extreme weather events, such as coastal floods, hurricanes, and storm surges, which can force coastal waters into inland areas. This puts individuals, especially older individuals or those with underlying health conditions, who are exposed to these waters at an increased risk of infection, according to the CDC.
Severe cases of vibriosis can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as “flesh-eating” bacteria, which is a rare but highly deadly infection. The peak season for vibrio infections is typically from May to October when water temperatures are warmer.
Symptoms of vibriosis can include watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, fever, shock, skin lesions, and wound infections. These symptoms usually appear within 24 hours to 3 days after exposure to the bacteria. People with compromised immune systems or chronic liver disease are particularly vulnerable to the dangerous effects of vibrio infections.
To protect oneself from vibriosis, the Alabama Department of Public Health offers the following recommendations:
– Avoid consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, such as oysters.
– Always wash hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish.
– If you have a wound, including recent surgeries, piercings, or tattoos, avoid contact with saltwater or brackish water.
– If you do have a wound and enter the water, cover it with a waterproof bandage if there’s a possibility of contact with saltwater, raw seafood, or its juices.
– Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to seawater or raw seafood or its juices.
– If you develop a skin infection, inform your healthcare provider if your skin has come into contact with saltwater, raw seafood, or its juices.
It is crucial for healthcare providers, individuals, and communities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of vibrio infections.