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A dozen people statewide have been diagnosed with Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium, and five of them have died
Vibrio vulnificus lives in coastal waters. The Louisiana Department of Health says elevated levels of the bacteria are typically found in warmer water from May to October
St. Bernard Councilman Fred Everhardt also works as a commercial fisherman. He said vibrio hospitalized three St. Bernard Parish residents this summer
“It’s scary, I mean you’re on a boat and you’ve got to make a living. You gotta do what you gotta do,” Everhardt said
“It’s the pain and suffering that they have to go through and the downtime when they do get it. Is it going to affect somebody where they don’t recover. We don’t know. It’s the unknown that you’re really worried about,” Everhardt said
The Louisiana Department of Health reports 12 Vibrio cases statewide, tied to wound and seawater exposures. Five people have died
LCMC Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Janz said the state typically sees 40 cases a year. He said most people will not contract Vibrio
Janz said those with chronic conditions, elderly people, or those with cuts who get in brackish water are most at risk and typically end up in the intensive care unit
“If you get this infection, your chance of dying from this infection is actually pretty high, higher than a lot of other infections that we all get exposed to during our life. Not just being at risk for amputation of arms, legs, etc., there is a good chance someone could die from this infection,” Janz said
While Vibrio can be deadly, Janz said water activities across southeast Louisiana are safe
“I wouldn’t go do those things when you have cuts or open sores, especially in these summer months. If you live with those chronic medical conditions, I would avoid going in brackish water,” Janz said
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