This Florida County Has The Highest Number Of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Disease Cases
This Florida county has the highest number of flesh-eating bacteria disease cases and I am shocked. I am shocked because it is the county that I live in. According to USA Today, Florida in general has seen a rise of Flesh-eating bacteria cases after the back to back hurricanes that occurred. According to state health department data, there have been 76 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2024. I live in St. Petersburg and 14 of those cases are in Pinellas County. Pinellas county has the highest number of flesh-eating bacteria cases in 2024!
What Is Vibrio Vulnificus?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Vibrio Vulnificus is “a type of bacteria that can cause a fatal infection. You get it from eating uncooked or undercooked shellfish or when seawater enters a wound. Symptoms get worse quickly. They include fever, low blood pressure and painful blisters. Go to the ER immediately if you think you have a Vibrio vulnificus infection.” While there are 76 cases of Vibrio Vulnificus, 13 of those cases have led to death in 2024.
They say that Vibrio Vulnificus thrives in warm floodwaters when hurricanes and tropical storms push a mix of fresh and saltwater upstream into canals and rivers. Treatment for Vibrio Vulnificus may require limb amputation to stop the rapid flesh deterioration. Pinellas has 14 cases of Vibrio Vulnificus and Hillsborough has 8. These two counties seen an increase after Hurricane Helene and Milton.
My House Flooded In Pinellas County And Now Im Nervous
After the hurricane was over, I came to my house to check on things. When I got home, i was shocked to find that my house had been flooded. Without thinking, I had walked through my room a little bit to access the damage. I was was walking through wo much water, and now I want to go get my feet checked out after reading this article.
According to the Center For Disease Control , Signs and Symptoms of Vibrio Vulnificus include, Fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration and discharge.
