What You Need To Know About The Dangerous Flesh-Eating Bacteria Found On Florida’s Coast

While a day at the beach is a great way to spend a day relaxing, if you’re planning on hitting the waters around Florida this summer, be sure to not let your guard too far down. A potentially deadly, and incredibly gruesome species of bacteria has been detected in the water lately, and is already responsible for the infection of at least eight people so far, and the death of two others.

A Shocking Infection

The bacterium is known as Vibro vulnificus, and it typically blooms in Florida’s warmer waters during the May to October months. It’s sometimes known as ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria, and causes a particularly gruesome injury to the body. People are at risk of becoming infected typically if they have an underlying immune problem (like a liver disease), or they wade into infected waters with an open cut. Once the bacteria enter the cut, they ‘eat’ away at the flesh in the open area, which leads to inflammation, ulcers, and extreme cases; death.

Now the good news about the bacteria is that most people are not at a high risk of a problem, as long as their immune system is strong. Considering how many people swim at Florida’s beaches throughout the months of May to October, last year there were only thirty-two recorded cases of infection, and seven deaths.

Contaminated Shellfish

That being said, people should be aware that the bacteria can be present in the raw shellfish that is caught in Florida, especially in the oysters. According to the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Aileen Marty, M.D., “if you don’t cook your shellfish properly, you’re setting yourself up for trouble”. This is definitely not a bacteria that you want to ingest into your system, as doing so can result in inflammation, ulcers, and if the infection is allowed to progress; amputation or death.

6 Best Prevention Methods

Clearly this is not a bacteria that you want to come anywhere near! Follow these six tips recommended by the CDC to keep yourself and your family safe from harm this summer:

Do not eat raw oysters or other raw shellfish.
Wear protective clothing (e.g., gloves) when handling raw shellfish.
Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly.

Eat shellfish promptly after cooking and refrigerate leftovers.
Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to warm salt or brackish water, or to raw shellfish harvested from such waters.
Individuals who are immunocompromised should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells on the beach.

Don’t Panic!

Although the bacteria causes a less-than-pleasant infection, Dr. Marty stresses that people should not panic. If you remain cautious, there should be no reason to not venture down for a day at the Florida beaches this summer. However, if you think you have been infected, you should head to the doctor immediately, and stop the spread of the infection before it gets too bad.