A total of nine people, who all had underlying health conditions, were hospitalized with Vibrio vulnificus in Louisiana

NEED TO KNOW

• Louisiana health officials say there have been at least five deaths this year amid an unprecedented rise in Vibrio vulnificus cases compared to the past decade
• They said that a total of nine people reported getting the bacteria and all were sickened after entering seawater with open wounds
• The bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters and can infect people through open wounds or contaminated seafood and officials urge caution in brackish water and when handling raw seafood

At least five people have died in Louisiana this year from the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, according to health officials.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) shared on its website that five out of nine people who have reported having the bacteria have died as of Wednesday, August 5.

Health officials said in a press release that the numbers being reported this year are unprecedented compared to “during the same period over the previous 10 years.” They noted that Louisiana previously reported “an average of seven cases and one death.”

All nine people were sickened after entering seawater with open wounds and were hospitalized. Each of them also had underlying health conditions, according to health officials.

The LDH said on its website that Vibrio vulnificus lives in coastal waters and is more abundant from May to October, when water temperatures are warmer. The LDH noted that the bacteria can make people sick when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.

The bacteria usually cause a “mild disease” in those who are healthy, but can become fatal for those who have “liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia.”

The LDH noted that people who get the bacteria from open wounds that come into contact with seawater should look for swelling, redness, warmth, pain, discoloration, discharge at the wound site, and fever.

Those who become infected after ingesting contaminated seafood can experience fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

Louisiana health officials warned people to stay out of brackish or salt water, especially if they have any open wounds, cuts or scrapes, or to cover their wound with a waterproof bandage. They should also wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water.

They also recommended that people use caution when handling raw or undercooked seafood, especially if they have a weakened immune system. People should wash their hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

This comes as Vibrio vulnificus reports in Maryland continue to rise, with the state’s health department confirming 29 cases so far this year, per WBFF. Florida also recently reported its second death linked to the bacteria and noted that 14 cases have been reported this year.

The two people who died in Florida are believed to have been in vulnerable age groups, as one was between 10 and 14 years old and the other was reportedly between 60 and 64 years old.

Source link