Florida Reports Dozens of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victims within the Wake of Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida in late September as a class 4 storm, bringing widespread flooding. Those poisonous floodwaters seem to be spreading Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating micro organism that turns deadly for many individuals unfortunate sufficient to contract it.

The signs of those infections embody nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and open lesions on the pores and skin, in accordance to the CDC. Without satisfactory remedy, folks die inside just some days after being contaminated. People may be uncovered to the micro organism by touching or consuming uncooked seafood, but it could additionally come from heat, brackish water.

“Sewage spills in coastal waters, like those caused by Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels. People with open wounds, cuts, or scratches can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with sea water or brackish water,” Lee County division spokeswoman Tammy Soliz stated in a press release. “Vibrio vulnificus has the potential to cause severe illness or death.”

According to the state well being division’s website, Florida has seen 65 confirmed instances of flesh-eating micro organism infections to date this yr, with 11 deaths. That’s an enormous enhance over earlier years: 2020 and 2021 noticed solely 34 instances and 36 instances, respectively. Lee County alone has confirmed a whopping 29 instances and 4 deaths to date this yr. The Florida Department of Health hasn’t famous what number of of those instances got here after the hurricane, although it says that 2022’s numbers are an “abnormal increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian.”

Lee County contains Fort Myers, which was particularly impacted by the storm. Homes, boats, and vehicles have been all inundated underneath murky water. Residents who have been unable to evacuate and the emergency responders who helped lots of them have been in touch with what may very well be extremely contaminated water.

The final time the state had a spike in flesh-eating micro organism instances was after Hurricane Irma in 2017. Florida noticed 50 confirmed instances and 11 deaths that yr.