Vibrio Vulnificus To Blame For Nine Deaths In Florida

Vibrio Vulnificus is reportedly to blame for nine deaths in the Florida area.

According to ABC News, the bacteria causes blood infections in people who go into the water with open wounds or who eat raw or undercooked seafood.

The report continues on to quote the US Food and Drug Administration, saying that “more than 70 percent of people who become infected have ‘distinctive bulbous skin lesions,’ and about half of vibrio vulnificus infections are fatal.”

Fox news stated that authorities in Flagler and Volusia counties are advising residents to avoid eating raw shellfish and exposing open wounds in seawater.

The report continues on to say that there have been 29 reported cases along with the nine deaths.

One case making the news is that of Henry Konietzky, a 59-year-old man who died Monday after he was exposed to the bacteria while fishing for crabs in the Halifax River.

According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Konietzky’s daughter, Sheila Konietzky, stated:

“We are all still in shock. What’s really devastating is that he fished his whole life. For something like this to take him away from us so quickly, without warning, is really scary.”

Flagler Health Department Administrator Patrick Johnson stated:

“This is an illness that generally happens when someone eats raw oysters but that’s not the case here. Because the two most recent cases are linked to the same area, we wanted to make the public aware.”

According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, the first case in Volusia County occurred in late August after a person consumed raw oysters, although an investigation determined the actual oysters that were consumed had been consumed in Louisiana said Volusia County Health Department director Dr. Bonnie Sorensen.

“We are advising residents to cook all seafood and avoid going into the water with open wounds,” Sorensen said.

According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Sorensen also recommended wearing gloves and washing hands after handling raw shellfish to help prevent becoming infected by the vibrio vulnificus bacteria.

[Image by CDC/James Gathany (PHIL #7815) via Wikimedia Commons]