You’ve probably heard about a case of Vibrio recently acquired at Galveston beaches. It’s commonly referred to as the “flesh eating bacteria”, and has many worried. However, the Galveston County Health District has some facts that may have been excluded from recent reports.
Vibrio is naturally occurring and frequently present in most salt and sea water, and consuming raw shellfish is the most common way people get Vibrio infection. Infections can also occur when the bacteria enters the body through open cuts or sores, and you should wrap them well in waterproof bandages or not swim in untreated water.
Most people recover from Vibrio infection without long-term complications. When Vibrio infection is severe, it’s common the affected person had serious pre-existing health conditions, like diabetes or hepatitis.
For more information about Vibrio check out http://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/
(Copyright 2016: WBAP/KLIF. All rights reserved)
