Florida sees rise in flesh-eating bacteria after Hurricane Ian
Associated Press
Posted:
Updated:
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian.
The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there had been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. That compares with 34 cases and 10 deaths reported during all of 2021.
In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths.
AP Photo/Marta Lavandier
Debris is piled up at the end of a cove following heavy winds and storm surge caused by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022, in Barefoot Beach, Fla.
Health officials didn’t give a breakdown of how many of the cases were before or after Ian struck.
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment — including warm, standing water — could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
“Flood waters and standing waters following a hurricane pose many risks, including infectious diseases such as vibrio vulnificus,” the county health department said in an Oct. 3 news release that urged the public to take precautions.
The advisory said that people with open wounds, cuts or scratches can be exposed to the bacteria through contact with sea water or brackish water. People with open wounds should avoid such water and seek medical care immediately if an infection is apparent.
Robert Bumsted
A pair of birds wait to be transported back to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped rescue hundreds of birds from a sanctuary that was damaged by Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Parrots sit in cages waiting to be transported to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Volunteers helped evacuate hundreds of birds from the Malama Manu Sanctuary to escape damage from Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Alexis Highland handles a parrot that is being evacuated from the Malama Manu Sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Bryan Stern, founder of Project Dynamo, carries a bird being rescued from a sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The organization was called to rescue a collection of hundreds of exotic birds from the island after Hurricane Ian devastated the region. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
A woman pushes a cart filled with containers holding exotic birds at the Malama Manu Sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
A crumpled section of roof sits beside a bird cage at the Malama Manu Sanctuary in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The sanctuary was heavily damaged by wind and flooding during Hurricane Ian, forcing hundreds of exotic birds to be relocated. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Will Peratino, owner of the Malama Manu Sanctuary, top right, and Alexis Highland, bottom right, place a bird in a cage on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Pine Island, Fla. Hundreds of birds had to be evacuated from the island after Hurricane Ian swept through the region. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Will Peratino peers into a bird cage on his property in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Peratino's rare and exotic birds had to be evacuated from his bird sanctuary after Hurricane Ian damaged the property. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Crates of exotic and rare birds are transported by boat to the mainland off the coast of Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Crates of exotic and rare birds are loaded onto boats in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
Robert Bumsted
Animal crates holding exotic and rare birds viewed through a window are carried to a boat waiting to transport them back to the mainland in Pine Island, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
