New York State Department releases guidance after 3 dead from flesh-eating bacteria in New York, Connecticut

The New York State Health Department released guidance for residents to identify a flesh-eating bacterium that has claimed the lives of one New York resident and two Connecticut residents over the summer.

The state Department of Public Health said that there are three people known to have been infected with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. 

Vibriosis causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ((Photo By BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))

Two Connecticut residents have died this summer from infections linked to a bacteria found in raw shellfish, the state Department of Public Health said Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Vibriosis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can cause skin breakdown and ulcers and is found in raw shellfish or seawater, health officials said.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul called the flesh-eating bacteria “extraordinarily dangerous,” calling upon her constituents to take precautions against the bacteria.

“While rare, the vibrio bacterium has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,” Hochul said in a press release. “As we investigate further, it is critical that all New Yorkers stay vigilant and take responsible precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, including protecting open wounds from seawater and for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish which may carry the bacteria.”

People fish from the jetty at the beach along the Atlantic Ocean at sunset on July 28, 2022. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)

Hochul said that Vibriosis is caused by several species of bacteria, including the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which occurs naturally in saltwater coastal environments. 

She noted that the potentially deadly bacteria is found in higher concentrations from May to October, when the weather is warmer.

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Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and chills. Exposure can also result in ear infections and cause sepsis and life-threatening wound infections.

The person in New York who died from Vibrio was in Suffolk County. Hochul said that the death is still being investigated to determine if the bacteria were encountered in New York waters or elsewhere. 

Woman tasting fresh raw oyster shellfish and drinking wine in seafood restaurant (iStock)

New York State Department of Health cautioned that individuals liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system or people taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels may be more likely to get an infection or develop complications when infected.

To help prevent vibriosis, people with a cut or scrape or a recent piercing or tattoo should avoid exposing skin to warm seawater in coastal environments or cover the wound with a waterproof bandage.

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In addition, the health department cautioned those with compromised immune systems to avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish, such as oysters, which can carry the bacteria. Wear gloves when handling raw shellfish and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water when finished.