- Health experts are warning of a projected increase in Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially fatal "flesh-eating" bacteria, as coastal water temperatures rise earlier than usual this season.
- Early-season infections have been reported along the East Coast, including five confirmed cases in Florida and one in Connecticut, with West Coast agencies also monitoring the bacteria.
- The bacteria, which naturally lives in coastal waters, typically infects humans through open wounds exposed to seawater or by consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
- Symptoms generally appear within 24 hours and include fever, chills, stomach cramps and potentially blistering skin lesions if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
- While treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early, advanced infections may require aggressive medical intervention, and preventative measures like avoiding raw shellfish and covering open wounds in seawater are recommended.
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