Terrifying flesh-eating bacteria invades Florida beaches

Terrifying flesh-eating bacteria invades Florida beaches

Seven people have been infected and 2 are dead after this nasty bacteria popped up out of nowhere.

A deadly bacteria that thrives in Florida’s warm saltwater beaches has infected seven people and killed two so far in 2015, causing health officials to scramble to deal with the problem.

A total of 32 cases of Vibrio vulnificus were reported in the Sunshine State in 2014, and about 85 percent of those infections occur during the summer months and into the fall when the beaches are most active, according to a Fox News report, based on statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How does one get infected with the bacteria? The most common way is to eat raw shellfish, according to Florida Health Department spokeswoman Mara Burger, who urged caution in a statement to the public.

But that’s not the only way to get it. Vibrio vulnificus is found naturally in warm marine waters, so if you’re swimming with an open wound, it can invade your bloodstream.

If you get it through shellfish, symptoms are typically vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. To avoid getting it, cook shellfish thoroughly and be careful not to cross-contaminate it with cooked foods. Eat the shellfish quickly after you cook it.

Those who are suspected of having an infection should get treatment immediately to avoid the risk of death.

Those who have wounded infections may need to have their limb amputated.

Oysters are an especially risky thing to consume as they are typically consumed raw, and the bacteria doesn’t cause any change in the appearance, taste, or odor of the shellfish.

Those that are swimming and get a puncture wound from a stingray or tilapia are at risk of getting the bacteria inside the wound.

People with compromised immune systems are 80 times more likely to spread the disease into the bloodstream. This can result in skin lesions, septic shock, and death.

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