 Three people on the East Coast have died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria, public health authorities said. At least three people in New York and Connecticut have died from an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, better known as the flesh-eating bacteria. 'While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,' New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday. The New York State Department of Health confirmed that one person in Suffolk County on Long Island died after exposure to Vibrio vulnificus. 'As we investigate further, it is critical that all New Yorkers stay vigilant and take responsible precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,' the governor said. Vibrio vulnificus can cause vibriosis, a potentially deadly infection that can lead to 'intensive care or limb amputations,' the Centers for Disease Control said. According to the CDC, one in five victims who contract the infection die, many within one to two days after getting sick. People are often exposed to Vibrio vulnificus either by eating raw shellfish that live in brackish water, or exposing open cuts or wounds to brackish water. Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, dangerously low blood pressure, skin lesions, and necrotizing fasciitis – the 'flesh-eating' condition that can appear around an open wound. People who have compromised immune systems are much more at risk of contracting the infection. Because the bacteria breeds in warm water, it is much more common between the months of May and October. Last month, three people contracted Vibrio vulnificus infections in Connecticut, state health authorities said. All three victims were between the ages of 60 and 80. Two of the victims infected have since died. One case was linked to an individual who ate raw oysters at an out-of-state){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Three people on the East Coast have died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria, public health authorities said.
At least three people in New York and Connecticut have died from an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, better known as the flesh-eating bacteria.
‘While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,’ New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday.
The New York State Department of Health confirmed that one person in Suffolk County on Long Island died after exposure to Vibrio vulnificus.