All articles tagged with #vibrio
Florida mom Genevieve Gallagher survived a Vibrio infection that started from a small leg cut during a boating trip; the case highlights how warm coastal waters can cause severe illness, including necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis, and she warns others to protect wounds before swimming and take basic beach-safety precautions.
Alabama health officials report 16 vibriosis cases linked to Vibrio bacteria along the Gulf Coast, with one death. Vibrio is naturally found in warm coastal waters, with higher risk from May through October, especially for people with open wounds who swim in salt or brackish water. To reduce risk, avoid coastal waters if you have open wounds or cover wounds with waterproof bandages when exposure is possible.
Vibriosis cases linked to Vibrio bacteria are rising as the Chesapeake Bay warms, with Maryland reporting a surge from 100 cases in 2018 to 260 in 2025, and 72 cases through late June 2026, per the Maryland Department of Health.
Warmer Mediterranean waters are fueling Vibrio bacteria growth, prompting beach closures in Spain and raising public-health risks from seafood and seawater, with broader economic implications for Europe’s tourism-reliant coastlines as climate change accelerates.
Five Floridians have contracted Vibrio vulnificus as Vibrio season peaks in warm coastal waters, underscoring the ongoing risk from seawater exposure and raw shellfish. Infections can be severe, ranging from wound infections to life‑threatening septicemia, particularly for people with liver disease or weakened immune systems. Health officials urge avoiding raw oysters, ensuring shellfish is fully cooked, and protecting any open wounds from seawater, while seeking urgent medical care for fever, swelling, or rapidly spreading redness.
Climate-driven warming of coastal waters is expanding Vibrio bacteria, including the deadly vulnificus, up the U.S. East Coast, increasing infection risks for beachgoers and shellfish consumers; researchers are building a month-ahead predictive model to flag high-risk counties and support public health and the shellfishing industry, though forecasts remain imperfect and industry views on the tool are mixed.
Restaurant workers say raw oysters carry real illness risks with no reliable way to detect infection; health authorities like the CDC advise cooking oysters thoroughly to reduce risks from Vibrio, norovirus, hepatitis A, and other pathogens, meaning diners should favor cooked preparations over raw servings.
A Pensacola mother warns about the dangers of vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria in local waters, after nearly losing her leg from infection. She advocates for better signage and routine water testing to prevent others from suffering similar injuries, highlighting the current lack of testing and public awareness despite the low infection rates.
Genevieve Gallagher contracted vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after swimming in Santa Rosa Sound at Pensacola Beach, leading to severe infections and multiple surgeries to save her leg, highlighting the dangers of such infections from water activities.
Two more deaths and an increase in Vibrio vulnificus infections in Louisiana highlight the rising danger of consuming tainted oysters, with a record number of cases this year, prompting health officials to urge caution.
Dare County reports two cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections linked to swimming in Croatan Sound and issues water safety guidance to prevent recreational water-related illnesses, emphasizing hygiene, wound care, and avoiding contaminated water, especially after heavy rains.
The mystery surrounding the illness of a San Jose woman who underwent quadruple amputation after eating tilapia fish deepens as public health officials confirm that she was not sickened by Vibrio. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is actively investigating to identify the cause of her illness, as several different diseases can lead to similar clinical outcomes. A GoFundMe page has raised over $111,000 for the woman's medical expenses, and she is currently healing well in the hospital.
Infections with a flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, commonly found in warm coastal waters, have raised concerns as cases and deaths associated with the bacteria have been reported in new areas, including the Northeastern U.S. Experts believe that rising water temperatures due to climate change may be expanding the geographic range of the bacteria. Vibrio vulnificus can be contracted through exposure to saltwater or by consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Symptoms can range from mild gastrointestinal illness to severe infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and septic shock. While vibrio infections are still relatively rare, health officials advise caution and recommend avoiding contact with seawater or brackish water if you have open wounds, and cooking shellfish thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection.
Experts warn that hurricanes and warmer water temperatures are increasing the risk of waterborne infections caused by flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio in Florida waters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health alert, emphasizing the importance of avoiding contact with water if you have a wound and cleaning any injuries sustained in the water with soap and water. Raw shellfish can also pose a risk, particularly for those who are immunocompromised or have chronic liver disease. While the numbers of infections are low, following basic safety measures can help prevent the potentially deadly Vibrio infections.
Murray Bridges, the owner of Endurance Seafood Company, may have died from a Vibrio bacterial infection, according to his daughter. This comes after the recent Vibrio-related death of another resident in Dare County. Vibrio cases are rare, but three deaths have been reported in North Carolina in July 2023. The Vibrio bacteria is becoming more prevalent in Northern waters due to climate change.