Florida county sees 2nd case of flesh-eating bacteria

Mackenzie Bean (Twitter) -

Florida health officials on Monday confirmed a case of Vibrio vulnificus in an Escambia County resident, reports Pensacola News Journal.

The infection marks the second confirmed Vibrio vulnificus case in the county this year and the sixth since 2014, according to the report. One resident died from the infection in 2015.

The Florida Department of Health did not release the infected individual's identity or the cause of the infection.

Vibrio vulnificus is one of about 12 Vibrio species that cause the vibriosis illness in humans. The bacteria are commonly found in warm coastal waters, and most people become infected by consuming raw or undercooked shellfish. Vibriosis symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. The bacteria can also enter the body through open wounds and cause a necrotizing skin infection, which can sometimes result in limb amputation.

To learn more about Vibrio vulnificus, click here.

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