{"id":76929,"date":"2024-10-21T06:00:11","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T06:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/04be10f375e3cbf5d1f9a95aa05d3360"},"modified":"2024-10-21T06:00:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T06:00:11","slug":"flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-in-florida-rise-after-back-to-back-hurricanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-in-florida-rise-after-back-to-back-hurricanes\/","title":{"rendered":"Flesh-eating bacteria cases in Florida rise after back-to-back hurricanes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay show-gate\" readability=\"24.90543071161\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\" readability=\"28.62265917603\">\n<p>Join Fox News for access to this content<\/p>\n<p>You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\" readability=\"21.43949044586\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Terms of Use<\/span> and <span class=\"waslinkname\">Privacy Policy<\/span>, which includes our <span class=\"waslinkname\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/span>. <\/div>\n<p><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><span class=\"waslinkname\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">The <span class=\"waslinkname\">Florida Department of Health<\/span> issued a warning to residents and visitors to avoid floodwaters as cases of flesh-eating bacteria continue to rise in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes that ravished the Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">In a press release, officials said there is an increased risk of Vibrio bacterial infections like Vibrio vulnificus, which can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n<p>Data from the state\u2019s health department shows 70 cases of Vibrio bacteria have been reported in 2024, which are responsible for 11 deaths. When compared to figures from 2022, the stats are similar to when Hurricane Ian damaged Collier and Lee counties, <span class=\"waslinkname\">FOX 13 in Tampa<\/span> reported.<\/p>\n<p>The rise in cases in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, the health department noted, was due to impacts from <span class=\"waslinkname\">hurricanes Helene and Milton.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS FEAR SOARING INSURANCE COST AFTER HURRICANES<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/343\/192\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/686\/384\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/672\/378\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1344\/756\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/931\/523\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1862\/1046\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/720\/405\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1440\/810\/hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_39.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-in-florida-rise-after-back-to-back-hurricanes.jpg\" alt=\"A water rescue team member walks through flood waters at an apartment complex in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><span>A water rescue team member walks through flood waters at an apartment complex in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla.&nbsp;<\/span> <span>(AP Photo\/Mike Stewart)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to the health department, Vibrio bacteria is commonly found in warm coastal waters and can cause illness when ingested or when open wounds are exposed to contaminated water.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After heavy rainfall and flooding, the concentration of these bacteria may rise, particularly in brackish and saltwater environments,&#8221; the health department said.<\/p>\n<p>Officials said individuals with compromised immune systems, liver disease or open wounds are at higher risk for Vibrio vulnificus.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>\u2018THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS FUEL\u2019: REP. GREG STEUBE OF FLORIDA TALKS HURRICANE AFTERMATH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/343\/192\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/686\/384\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/672\/378\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1344\/756\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/931\/523\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1862\/1046\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/720\/405\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1440\/810\/95020d85-hurricane-milton-gulf-coast-florida-day-2_19.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-in-florida-rise-after-back-to-back-hurricanes-1.jpg\" alt=\"In this aerial view, a person walks through flood waters that inundated a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton came ashore\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"10\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><span>In this aerial view, a person walks through flood waters that inundated a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton came ashore on October 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida.&nbsp;<\/span> <span>(Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If contracted, an individual may experience diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, a quicker heart rate, confusion or disorientation.<\/p>\n<p>The health department suggests anyone experiencing these symptoms after being exposed to floodwaters seek medical attention immediately.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>HELENE \u2018LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF&#8217;: FLORIDA REP KAT CAMMACK DETAILS SEVERE HURRICANE DAMAGE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/343\/192\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/686\/384\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/672\/378\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1344\/756\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/931\/523\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1862\/1046\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/720\/405\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1440\/810\/vibrio-vulnificus-bacterium.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-in-florida-rise-after-back-to-back-hurricanes-2.jpg\" alt=\"A microscope picture of the vibrio vulnificus bacterium\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><span>This Scanning Electron Micrograph Sem Depicts A Flagellated Vibrio Vulnificus Bacterium.<\/span> <span>(BSIP\/UIG Via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>To avoid contracting the flesh-eating bacterial infection, the health department suggests not swimming in floodwaters, standing water, seawater or brackish water, and to cover open cuts and wounds with waterproof bandages.<\/p>\n<p>Along with a rise in <span class=\"waslinkname\">life-threatening bacteria,<\/span> FOX 13 reported that scientists are monitoring for a rise in Karenia brevis, also known as the algae that produces red tide, along the Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n<p>After Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota, satellites began to detect significant levels of chlorophyll, which can trigger red tide events.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While the toxins have the ability to cause an individual to have respiratory symptoms, exposure to Karenia brevis is not known to result in human death, though it can be detrimental to marine life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. 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