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health17h ago
Vibrio vulnificus has returned to Florida beaches
- Vibrio vulnificus has returned to Florida beaches as the peak season begins in warm coastal waters.
- Health officials say cases are already outstripping counts from this time last year in several counties.
- Experts warn the infection is linked to warm, brackish water and can affect people who eat raw shellfish or have wounds in the water.
- Florida health officials advise avoiding open wounds in warm waters and cooking shellfish thoroughly to prevent infection.
- The risk is higher for people with liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease or other immunocompromising conditions.
- Experts describe the bacterium as a threat that can cause necrotizing tissue and septic shock if it enters the body.
- The Florida Department of Health emphasizes prevention through proper food handling and wound care near coastal waters.
- Experts say climate factors like rising temperatures and algal blooms contribute to the spread of Vibrio.
- A case in the medical literature describes a man who required amputation after exposure to seawater following an injury.
- Officials urge prompt medical care if infection signs appear after exposure to water or shellfish.
- The article notes Florida and Louisiana account for most infections, with a broader geographic reach in rare cases like Cape Cod.
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