Florida's 'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria: Myths Busted

As headlines about deaths related to a “flesh-eating” bacteria found in Florida’s warm, salt waters make their way around the globe, officials are trying to set the record straight.

The Florida Department of Health’s Pinellas County office issued a “Vibrio Myth Buster” report today to help clear up some of the misconceptions about the rare, but potentially lethal organism.

“The naturally occurring organisms in the vibrio family have been in the news this week, but a lot of ‘myth-information’ has scared beachgoers and visitors,” wrote Maggie Hall, the department’s spokeswoman in an email to media.”

Here are the points Hall wants to make sure residents, visitors and, most especially, beachgoers know about:

· Vibrio vulnificus is not a “flesh-eating” bacteria. “There is no such
medical term and the organism is not a Pac-man consuming pac-dots,” Hall wrote.

· The vibrio bacteria comes in several varieties that thrive in saltwater. The type in the news is Vibrio vulnificus.

· Vibrio numbers naturally increase in the summer when saltwater gets warmer.

· As of Aug. 2, the total number of reported vibrio cases in Florida stands at 13. There are three reported deaths, Hall said. “Based on the millions of visitors to the state’s beaches, the percentage of exposure to beach waters versus contracting vibrio is extremely low.”

· Pinellas County has no reported cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2014.

· Vibro infections can arise from eating raw or undercooked seafood. Oysters are especially troublesome. The bacteria can also enter the body through open wounds, so swimming with a cut or using saltwater to clean out a cut just isn’t recommended.

· Most people who contract vibrio don’t show severe symptoms. The common signs are vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. That said, “ in those with chronic liver disease, Vibrio vulnificus can cause a severe, or even fatal, illness. Symptoms are fever and chills, decreased blood pressure (septic shock), and blistering skin lesions,” Hall wrote.

· When open wounds are exposed to the bacteria, ulcerations of the skin can occur.

For more information about Vibrio vulnificus, visit the department of health online.

The most recent death in Florida related to Vibrio is out of Sarasota County where a middle-aged man succumbed to illness last week. Hillsborough County has also had a reported case this year, but the victim there is expected to make a full recovery.

Have the news reports about Vibrio vulnificus kept you out of Tampa Bay’s waters this summer? Tell us by commenting below!