Four people in the Northeast are dead due to exposure to vibrio vulnificus, dubbed the "flesh-eating bacteria," which causes a rare but deadly infection.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) issued a public health warning on Wednesday evening after the death of a Suffolk County resident due to exposure to contaminated water. Officials are still assessing the source of the contamination.
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“While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous," Hochul said. “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, including protecting open wounds from seawater and for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish, which may carry the bacteria.”
Earlier this summer, two individuals in Connecticut were infected with bacteria after swimming at two different locations on Long Island Sound. Another Connecticut resident was infected by consuming raw oysters from outside the state, dying shortly after. All three victims were over 60 years old.
Here is what to know about this deadly public health threat.
What is vibrio vulnificus and vibrio illness?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, vibrio vulnificus bacteria causes the most serious form of vibrio illness, or vibriosis, due to its short incubation period and symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from those of other diseases.
Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin redness or rash, which can appear less than 24 hours after infection and can be fatal quickly if left untreated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the United States, but only 100 to 200 of those cases come from vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Others are caused by less harmful strains of vibrio bacteria.
Is vibrio vulnificus a "flesh-eating" bacteria?
Not technically.
According to the CDC, "Some vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies."
Many different types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis, including strains of bacteria that also cause strep throat.
If identified promptly, necrotizing fasciitis can be treated with antibiotics and surgery, sometimes including amputation.
When was it first discovered in the region?
The Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a warning to residents on July 28 saying that three cases had been reported to the state since July 1. Prior to that, there had been no reported cases of the illness since 2020, which had a total of five cases across the state.
At the time of the Connecticut press release, only one individual had died from the infection in 2023.
Connecticut DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani warned residents to "consider the potential risk of consuming raw oysters and exposure to salt or brackish water and take appropriate precautions ... Given our current heat wave, this may be a time to exercise particular caution in what you consume."
How do individuals protect themselves?
Those with weakened immune system, such as those who have liver disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV, are more likely to develop serious complications from vibriosis and are advised to take extra precautions around salt water or marsh and when consuming raw or undercooked seafood and shellfish.
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New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald reminded clinicians on Wednesday to consider vibriosis as a possible diagnosis for patients presenting with fever or rash, especially if they were recently exposed to possibly contaminated water.
Individual citizens should also be cautious regarding swimming or wading in salt water if they have an open wound or break in the skin and take precautionary measures, such as using waterproof bandages or limiting exposure. Those who work with seafood or saltwater are most at risk.