2 Deaths In Florida Linked To Eating Raw Oysters: Report

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A bacterial infection linked to eating raw oysters claimed the lives of two Florida men this month, according to reports.

The most recent death happened in south Florida after a customer at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse in Fort Lauderdale consumed raw oysters, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Earlier this month, a Pensacola man died the same way, NBC News reported. Both deaths are linked to the bacteria Vibrio, which is found in oysters.

Health officials have not released the names of the people who died.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vibrio bacteria naturally inhabit coastal waters where oysters live. Because oysters feed by filtering water, bacteria can concentrate in their tissues. By eating raw or undercooked oysters, people may ingest viruses or bacteria found in the oyster.

An oyster that contains harmful bacteria won't look, smell, or taste different than other oysters, according to the CDC.

Most Vibrio infections result in diarrhea and vomiting; however, some infections can cause more severe illness, including bloodstream infections and blistering skin lesions. About 15 to 30 percent of infections are fatal, according to the CDC.