Two people have died from eating raw oysters that were contaminated with a flesh-eating bacteria, Louisiana health officials said.
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacteria that occurs in warm coastal waters. It is more common between May and October. The bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to contaminated waters, or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood. Oysters are particularly risky, state health officials said in a July news release.
The bacteria can cause life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis, which may result in limb amputation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, the CDC said.
There have been 22 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection in Louisiana residents, the state department of health said. All of the victims were hospitalized. Four people have died, the health department said.
Two of the deaths were among people who had eaten raw Louisiana oysters. The other two deaths were among people who reported exposing an open wound to seawater. None of the victims have been identified. One of the victims who ate contaminated oysters was a Louisiana resident. The other lived out of state, the health department said.
Louisiana has been seeing a higher number of Vibrio vulnificus infections and deaths, the state’s health department said. During the past 10 years, the state has seen an average of seven infections and one death per year.
Risk of the bacteria is rising due to warming oceans. Earlier this mont, Florida confirmed 13 cases of Vibrio vulnificus across 11 counties. Eight victims died, CBS Miami reported. Cases of the bacteria have been reported recently as far north as Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.
Flesh-eating bacteria cases on the rise
Flesh-eating bacteria cases on the rise in U.S.
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Two people have died from eating raw oysters that were contaminated with a flesh-eating bacteria, Louisiana health officials said. Vibrio vulnificus is a bacteria that occurs in warm coastal waters. It is more common between May and October. The bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to contaminated waters, or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood. Oysters are particularly risky, state health officials said in a July news release. The bacteria can cause life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis, which may result in limb amputation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, the CDC said. There have been 22 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection in Louisiana residents, the state department of health said. All of the victims were hospitalized. Four people have died, the health department said. Two of the deaths were among people who had eaten raw Louisiana oysters. The other two deaths were among people who reported exposing an open wound to seawater. None of the victims have been identified. One of the victims who ate contaminated oysters was a Louisiana resident. The other lived out of state, the health department said.
Louisiana has been seeing a higher number of Vibrio vulnificus infections and deaths, the state’s health department said. During the past 10 years, the state has seen an average of seven infections and one death per year. Risk of the bacteria is rising due to warming oceans. Earlier this mont, Florida confirmed 13 cases of Vibrio vulnificus across 11 counties. Eight victims died, CBS Miami reported. Cases of the bacteria have been reported recently as far north as Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.
Kerry Breen
Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News’ TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
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