Officials from the Florida Department of Health identified the illness as vibriosis, which is caused by Virbrio vulnificus bacteria and can lead to diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.
The man, who had underlying medical conditions, died two days after eating the oysters, according to WWSB. The name of the restaurant has not been released.
Humans can contract vibriosis by eating raw shellfish, such as oysters, or by having open wounds exposed to seawater, as the bacteria naturally live in warm, brackish water. Infections attributed to the bacteria are rare, but can be potentially fatal for individuals with weakened immune systems.
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