5 Tampa Bay Area Residents Are Dead After Catching A Flesh Eating Bacteria That Lives In Beach Water
This story is so heartbreaking. 5 Tampa Bay area residents are dead after catching a flesh eating bacteria that lives in beach water. According to Fox News 13, it has been confirmed by Florida officials.
The flesh eating bacteria has been confirmed as vibrio vulnificus and it’s natural habitat is in warm, brackish seawater because it requires salt to live. The bacteria typically grows more quickly in warmer months. Getting infected by this is rare, but those with open cuts, wounds or scrapes must stay out of the water.
People with open cuts, scratches or wounds can be exposed to the bacterium through direct contact with the mixture of seawater and fresh water. Vibrio Vulnificus can cause an infection of the skin which may lead to ulcers and other skin breakdowns. Vibrio Vulnificus can be more severe with people with weak immune systems.
If this bacterium gets in the bloodstream, it can cause a life threatening illness with symptoms including, decreased blood pressure, blistering skin lesions, fever and chills. As we see, it can also cause death. According to the CDC, one in five people die sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.
Tampa Bay Area Counties Where People Have Died
Sadly, 5 people have died from this bacterial infection. 1 person in Polk, 1 in Pasco, 1 in Sarasota and 2 people in Hillsborough County. Even though 5 people are dead, there have been 26 reported cases of vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida since January.
Seven Florida Beaches Are The Most Dangerous Beaches In U.S.
1. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
They received a score of 8.14 out of 10 because there’s been 10 surf zone fatalities and 32 reported shark attacks.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
2. Cocoa Beach, Florida
They received a score of 7.57 out of 10 because of several surf zone fatalities and shark attacks.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
3. Ormond Beach, Florida
They received a score of 7.48 out of 10 because of hurricanes surf zone fatalities than shark attacks.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
4. Panama City Beach, Florida
They received a score of 7.16 out of 10 with 24 surf deaths.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
6. Melbourne Beach, Florida
They received a score of 6.35 out of 10 with three surf zone fatalities and six shark attacks.
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7. Jacksonville Beach, Florida
They received a score of 6.02 out of 10 with three surf zone deaths and three shark attacks.
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10. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
They received a score of 5.37 out of 10 with three surf zone fatalities and two shark attacks.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
