Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills 5 in Louisiana as Cases Surge Past Decade Average
All nine Louisiana cases were tied to seawater-exposed wounds, and four other patients were hospitalized, the health department said.
- Louisiana Health Department officials reported Thursday that nine people contracted Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, with five deaths resulting from the flesh-eating bacteria found in warm coastal waters.
- The bacteria exists naturally in warm coastal waters and infects individuals with exposed open wounds and underlying health conditions; cases typically rise from May to October when water temperatures warm.
- According to the CDC, infection occurs through contaminated shellfish or exposed wounds in brackish water; prevention requires avoiding saltwater with open wounds and thoroughly cooking seafood.
- This year's five fatalities represent a significant increase from Louisiana's average of one death annually over the previous 10 years; about one in five infected people die from the infection.
- Rising water temperatures caused by climate change are contributing to infection risks in new regions, with Vibrio vulnificus detected this spring in coastal waters near New York's Long Island.
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Louisiana Warns Of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Outbreak
NBC News reports: Louisiana health officials are urging residents to take precautions against a flesh-eating bacterial infection following the deaths of five people this year. The Louisiana Department of Health issued a warning about the infection, known as Vibrio vulnificus, in a press release on Thursday. The department said nine people have been infected this year and five have died. By comparison, Louisiana averaged seven cases and one death…
Five Dead From Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Louisiana as Health Officials Warn of Rise in Severe Cases
نُشر هذا المقال أولاً عبر Cedarnews.net. لمتابعة المزيد من الأخبار والتقارير الحصرية، زورونا على موقعنا. Five people have died from Vibrio vulnificus, commonly referred to as a “flesh-eating bacteria,” in Louisiana, where nine cases have been confirmed so far in 2026, according to state health officials. The Louisiana Department of Health says the rate and severity of infections this year are higher than the state’s historical average. Over the …
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