When people think of food poisoning, usually Salmonella, E.coli, or Listeria are the first bacteria that come to mind. Not many think about Vibriosis because it isn’t nearly as common. Though this is true, it is much more dangerous. Vibrio bacteria have already proven to be deadly, as the CDC reports, “As many as 1 in 5 people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die. This is because Vibrio vulnificus infection can lead to bloodstream infections, severe skin blistering, and limb amputations.”
What is Vibriosis? According to the CDC, “Vibrio naturally live in coastal waters where oysters live. Because oysters feed by filtering water, Vibrio and other harmful germs can concentrate in their tissues.” Although consuming contaminated oysters is the most common way someone becomes ill with Vibriosis, some other ways include:
- Getting brackish or salt water in a wound, such as when swimming, wading, or fishing;
- Cutting themselves on an item, such as a rock or pier and;
- Getting raw seafood juices or drippings in a wound.
Symptoms to be on the lookout for include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. If someone experiences these symptoms after consuming raw oysters or meeting one of the conditions aforementioned above it is important to contact their health provider immediately. It is vital that if a person does become ill with Vibriosis, it is also reported to the Health Department, so that food poisoning outbreaks can be identified.
As with every food poisoning illness outbreak, the same few groups are more susceptible to becoming severely ill. These groups include younger children and older adults, the immunocompromised, and others who suffer from chronic health issues are those who are at the most risk. CNN Health corroborates this statement, as it is noted that Paul A. Gulig, a professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology said, “for the raw oysters, by far most of the people who get seriously ill from that have predisposing conditions. But … you can be otherwise healthy and get the wound infection because you’re introducing the bacteria right into your tissue.”
Vibrio can be extremely dangerous, and it is important that the public is educated on this type of bacteria so deaths related to this can be prevented.
