The Florida Department of Health has issued a warning to residents and visitors to avoid flooding as outbreaks of human-eating bacteria continue to rise in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast.
Officials said in a press release that there is an increased risk of Vibrio bacterial infections such as Vibrio vulnificus, which can be life-threatening.
In 2024, there will be 70 reported Vibrio cases and 11 deaths, according to state health department data. Compared to 2022 numbers, this statistic is similar to when Hurricane Ian devastated Collier and Lee counties. FOX 13 in Tampa Reported.
The health department attributed the increase in cases in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties to the effects of hurricanes Helen and Milton.
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Members of a water rescue team wade through floodwaters at an apartment complex in the wake of Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Clearwater, Florida. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Vibrio bacteria are commonly found in warm coastal waters and can cause illness if ingested or if an open wound is exposed to contaminated water, according to the health department.
“Concentrations of these bacteria can increase after heavy rains or flooding, especially in brackish and marine waters,” the health department said.
Officials said people with weakened immune systems, liver disease or open wounds are at higher risk for Vibrio vulnificus.
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This aerial photo shows a person walking through floodwaters that flooded a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Punta Gorda, Florida, on October 10, 2024. The storm made landfall in the Siesta Key area of Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, causing damage and flooding throughout central Florida. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
If you become infected, you may experience diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, rapid heart rate, confusion, and disorientation.
The health department recommends that anyone who develops these symptoms after exposure to floodwaters seek immediate medical attention.
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This scanning electron micrograph shows a Vibrio vulnificus bacterium with flagella. (BSIP/UIG via Getty Images)
To avoid contracting flesh-eating bacterial infections, the health department recommends not swimming in flooded, stagnant, saltwater, or brackish waters and covering open cuts and wounds with waterproof bandages.
In addition to an increase in life-threatening bacteria, scientists are monitoring an increase in Karenia brevis, also known as the algae that causes red tide, along the Gulf Coast, FOX 13 reported.
After Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota, satellites began detecting significant levels of chlorophyll, which can cause red tide events.
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Although this toxin has the ability to cause respiratory symptoms in individuals, exposure to Karenia brevis is not known to be fatal in humans, but it can have negative effects on marine life.
