A man in his 30s from Texas has tragically passed away after consuming raw oysters that were contaminated with a flesh-eating bacterial infection.
According to local health authorities, the individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, contracted a Vibrio vulnificus infection, which occurs when the bacteria present in warm coastal waters enters the body through the consumption of oysters.
Medical experts have noted an increase in Vibrio infections throughout the United States, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an alert earlier this year. Regrettably, at least 12 Americans have lost their lives to Vibrio infections in the current year.
Dr. Philip Keiser, representing the Galveston County Health Department, which reported this tragic incident, remarked to ABC13, “These infections, once they take hold, can spread extremely rapidly—like a fire.”
The victim, already facing health challenges with a liver condition and taking immunosuppressant drugs, was particularly susceptible to severe illness from the infection.
Typically, the county records five to 10 Vibrio infections annually, with fatalities occurring “every few years.”
It remains unclear when the man passed away or where he obtained the raw oysters.
Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters and can contaminate shellfish, including oysters, as it infiltrates them during the filtration of surrounding water. Humans may be exposed to the bacteria by consuming contaminated seafood or by swimming in infected waters with open cuts or wounds.
When ingested, Vibrio vulnificus is not easily neutralized by stomach acid and can make its way to the small intestine, where it rapidly multiplies and attacks the surrounding tissues. The infection progresses swiftly, potentially leading to septic shock and fatality within a matter of days.
Approximately one in three patients diagnosed with a Vibrio infection do not survive, according to the CDC. Symptoms of infection from food consumption manifest within hours and may include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. As the infection advances, individuals may experience a high fever, chills, and sepsis—a severe and potentially life-threatening response to infection.
Treatment for Vibrio vulnificus infection involves the use of antibiotics and, in some cases, surgical removal of infected tissue.
Tragically, the Texas man’s passing marks the twelfth known Vibrio infection-related death in the United States this year. (ai/mnm/Source:MailOnline)
