A Texas man succumbed to a fatal bacterial infection after consuming raw oysters, according to health officials.
On Friday, the Galveston County Health District in Texas reported a death resulting from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, a bacterium commonly found in warm coastal waters.
Officials attributed the rise in vibrio infections to unusually warm ocean waters, particularly affecting states like Texas and Florida.
This increase prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a health advisory concerning the recent surge in these infections.
The victim, a man aged between 30 and 40, had pre-existing conditions that made him susceptible to vibrio infections.
Typically, such infections manifest with symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, cellulitis, blistering lesions, fever, and chills. In cases where the infection spreads to the bloodstream, there is a significant 50% risk of mortality.
The health district advised, “Individuals who are immunosuppressed, have liver disease, or diabetes should avoid consuming raw shellfish and engaging in recreational activities in coastal waters.”
Earlier in the year, five deaths from vibrio infections were confirmed in the Tampa Bay Area. In 2022, Florida reported a total of 75 cases and 17 deaths, with many occurring in Lee County following Hurricane Ian-induced flooding.
