Vibrio bacteria kills fifth person in Louisiana, 26 infected so far

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Vibrio bacteria are naturally found in coastal brackish waters typically from May to October when temperatures are warmer.

With such a hot summer, the bacteria has been able to thrive, infecting 26 people so far in Louisiana and killing 5.

“This is a very high number for us which is why we are concerned,” State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol said.

The bacteria is able to enter a body in two ways: through the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood or when exposed to an open wound.

Of the 26 cases in Louisiana, 85% reported wound seawater exposure.

“That’s actually typical. So that’s what you would expect to see for Vibrio Vulnificus anywhere that it occurs. It’s a much smaller proportion that is associated with consumption of raw seafood,” Sokol said.

John Melton, who lives in his boat on Lake Pontchartrain, says he’s usually very cautious about getting into the water and has been even more careful this summer.

“Into a summer like this when it’s so hot and all that bacteria can keep growing and growing, that’s not what I choose to do. I choose to stay out of the water as much as possible,” Melton said.

While anyone is able to be infected, there are some medical conditions that can increase someone’s risk of infection.

Among the Louisiana residents that have been infected so far this year, 92% had an underlying medical condition.

“Some of those conditions include liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, being immune suppressed or taking immune suppressed drugs, taking medicine that decreases stomach acid levels, those kinds of things,” Sokol said.

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