{"id":58942,"date":"2025-11-13T22:38:05","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T03:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=58942"},"modified":"2025-11-13T22:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T03:38:11","slug":"case-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-reported-in-polk-county-state-health-officials-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/11\/13\/case-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-reported-in-polk-county-state-health-officials-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Case of flesh-eating bacteria reported in Polk County, state health officials say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) reported a new case of\u00a0flesh-eating bacteria<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 this time in Polk County.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lakeland Gazette reached out to the FLDOH to get clarity over how and where the case was identified, but officials said the details are confidential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of Nov. 13, though, there have been 31 cases identified by the FLDOH, and five deaths have been reported. The latest in Polk County represents the first case in 2025, according to state data<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, there were 82 documented cases of the bacteria, and 19 people died, according to the FLDOH. The number of deaths and cases was high due to the hurricanes that impacted the state, the department says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flesh-eating bacteria, or vibrio vulnificus<\/em>, while rare, can be contracted through open wounds while being in brackish or salty waters, where the bacteria can be found naturally, especially if it’s warm. The FLDOH recommends that if you have fresh cuts or scrapes, you should avoid going into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cases are also underreported, FLDOH says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Individuals who are immunocompromised, e.g chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune system, should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells on the beach,” the FLDOH states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters,” according to the Centers for Disease Control<\/a>. “Some people get vibriosis after an open wound comes in contact with coastal waters.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC estimates that every year, there are 80,000 cases in the U.S., adding that 52,000 “are the result of eating contaminated food.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do symptoms look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC notes<\/a> that common signs of infection include: diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the infection is in the bloodstream<\/strong>, symptoms can be fever, chills, “dangerously low blood pressure,” and blister lesions in the skin, the federal agency says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a wound infection,<\/strong> the CDC states that signs and symptoms can be: fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration and discharge or leaking fluids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Some Vibrio infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies,” the CDC states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When should you seek emergency care?<\/strong> “Immediately see your doctor or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a Vibrio bloodstream or wound infection,” the CDC states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to prevent Flesh-eating bacteria infections?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Vibrio that naturally live in coastal waters can get inside an open wound and cause an infection,” the CDC states.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n