Florida Vibrio vulnificus cases rise to 13, Additional cases in Pasco, Pinellas counties

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

In an update on the Vibrio vulnificus tally in Florida this year, state health officials report three additional cases since the last update on July 12.

Two additional cases were reported in Pasco County and one in Pinellas County, according to the latest update on Aug. 9.

To date, no deaths have been reported.

Since 2015, Florida has seen between 40 and 50 cases annually and between 9 and 14 fatalities.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause disease in those who eat contaminated seafood or have an open wound that is exposed to warm seawater containing the bacteria. Ingestion of Vibrio vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Vibrio vulnificus can also cause an infection of the skin when open wounds are exposed to warm seawater; these infections may lead to skin breakdown and ulcers.

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Healthy individuals typically develop a mild disease; however, Vibrio vulnificus infections can be a serious concern for people who have weakened immune systems, particularly those with chronic liver disease.

The bacterium can invade the bloodstream, causing a severe and life-threatening illness with symptoms like fever, chills, decreased blood pressure (septic shock) and blistering skin lesions. Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time. A recent study showed that people with these pre-existing medical conditions were 80 times more likely to develop Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections than healthy people.