9 Deaths Due to Flesh-Eating Bacteria

www.winknews.com (CBS affiiiate Ft. Myers) Published Sep 29, 2013,; updated Oct 1, 2013

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LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Bacteria-infested is water putting Florida beachgoers on alert. State health officials say at least nine people have died so far this year in Florida from what's called "Vibrio Vulnificus," which tends to live in warm seawater. ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the bacterium normally lives in warm seawater and is in the same family as Cholera. symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. ...

Florida health officials say nine people have died from the bacteria in Florida so far this year, including a 59-year-old man in Volusia County Monday. ...

"Big increase in vibrio infections. It is kind of a warm water thing, and we have some warm water, but we didn't have this last year or the year before. Not nearly as many," said Dr. Todd Husty with Seminole County EMS. ...

Officials are warning people to avoid eating raw fish and protecting open wounds in seawater.