Skip to main content

Tag: bacteria

Bradenton man loses leg to flesh-eating bacteria

Bradenton man loses leg to flesh-eating bacteria

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

BRADENTON – A 66-year-old Braden­ton resident had his leg amputated on Nov. 11 after coming in contact with flesh-eating bacteria (vibrio vulnificus) at a time when confirmed vibrio vulnificus cases are on the rise statewide.

The man came in contact with the flesh-eating bacteria while wading and fishing in Sarasota Bay, near the IMG Academy Golf Club along El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.

According to a family member, the longtime Bradenton resident went fishing in Sarasota Bay on Nov. 3 and his shoe or boot rubbed his skin on the back of his leg raw, creating an open wound near his Achilles tendon. The man fished in that location again on Nov. 5.

On Nov. 9, he began experiencing uncontrollable diarrhea, vomiting, severe leg pain and skin discoloration between his ankle and his knee. After being hospital­ized, his leg was amputated on Nov. 11. As of Friday, Nov. 15, he was recovering but he remained unconscious and faces a long recovery process, the family member said.

CASES INCREASE

According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) website that is updated every Friday, vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria found in warm, brackish saltwater. The flesh-eating bacteria enters the body through the direct ingestion of contaminated water or through open wounds, cuts or scrapes.

Confirmed cases of vibrio vulnificus increased after Hurricane Helene passed through Florida in late September.

According to the FDOH website, “In 2024, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties experienced unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. In 2022, Collier and Lee Counties experienced unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian.”

According to FDOH, 81 cases of vibrio vulnificus have been confirmed in Florida so far in 2024, with 16 reported deaths. In 2023, 46 cases were confirmed statewide, with 11 deaths.

In 2022, there were 74 confirmed cases and 17 deaths.

There’s been one confirmed case of vibrio vulnificus in Manatee County in 2024 and two in Sarasota County, with no vibrio-related deaths in either county. In 2023, there was one confirmed and fatal case in Manatee County and six cases and two fatalities in Sarasota County. This year, Pinellas County leads Florida with 15 confirmed cases and three deaths.

FDOH INSIGHTS

On Friday, FDOH Communications Director Jae Williams provided some additional insights and information about the flesh-eating bacteria.

Williams said the increase in confirmed 2024 cases and deaths is specifically correlated to Hurricane Helene. He noted there was also a spike in reported cases in 2022 after Hurricane Ian.

“Hurricanes bring a ripe environment for vibrio. They bring storm surge and rain and then we have that brackish water that vibrio needs. Hurricanes bring a lot of contamination and it’s not just debris and household materials. We have sewage lines ruptured and garbage cans spilling over. There’s a lot of opportunity for this standing water to become contaminated. When the storm surge recedes and the rain goes away, you still have standing water baking in the Florida sun for several days. That’s where vibrio’s able to develop. Vibrio is not necessarily in floodwater, but it’ sin contaminated water. Regardless of the contamination source, it’s warm, shallow, brackish, stagnant water. That’s where you’re going to find it. You’re not going to find it in the middle of the Gulf ,the middle of Lake Okeechobee or in the middle of a moving river,” Williams said.

“With hurricanes, not only is the environ­ment more conducive to vibrio, but people often find themselves needing to wade through standing floodwater. There are many reasons to stay out of floodwater… but the scariest would be vibrio,” Williams said.

Regarding the Bradenton man, Williams said, “If he was fishing in the (first) week of November, that would not be attributed to either of the hurricanes. Unfortunately, this is just one of those regular cases we see throughout the year.”

Williams said Florida averages about 35 confirmed vibrio vulnificus cases and 10-12 deaths per year. FDOH doesn’t test Florida waters for vibrio vulnificus or issue vibrio vulnificus advisories when a confirmed case is reported because the harmful but short-lived bacteria usually washes away or dissipates before the area can be tested.

“There’s no way for us to go back and find it,” Williams said, noting that each confirmed case is reported to the health department. “Vibrio vulnificus is a reportable disease in Florida. If a health care facility diagnoses someone with vibrio vulnificus, that facility is required by law to report that to the Department of Health.

“It’s rare, but it’s scary and its serious. It’s unfortunate that this man’s leg was amputated, but he’s very lucky they got it before he died,” Williams said. “If you wade in standing water and develop severe flu-like symptoms, get medical attention immediately.”

Williams was asked if vibrio presents a risk to dogs and other animals.

“Certainly,” he replied. “If they ingest it or have open wounds, they are at risk the same way a human would be. Pets shouldn’t be in shallow, standing water either.”

 

Swimming prohibited at several beaches

Swimming prohibited at several beaches

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Uncategorized.

UPDATED Aug. 1, 2022 – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No-swim advisories remain in effect today for north Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, north Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, north Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and south Palma Sola Causeway in Bradenton.

Christopher Tittel, communications director for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) said new water samples would be taken today, with results expected by mid-week.

A no-swim advisory is issued when contact with the water at the site could make beachgoers sick.

“We encourage people to go and enjoy the beach regardless of the current water conditions; there’s nothing airborne, so even if you can’t get in the water, you can enjoy the beach,” Tittel said. “It’s one thing to get this on your skin, but people who go in the water with any kind of open wounds or cuts are at risk for much more serious health issues.”

Many Island beaches were under no-swim advisories on Friday, but the green flag was out south of lifeguard tower 7 in Coquina Beach, meaning water conditions were safe for swimmers, and there were hundreds of people in the water.

“We only get one day here, we have to leave tomorrow, so it would have been terrible if we couldn’t get in the water,” said Chelsea Wade, who was visiting Coquina Beach with her husband and two children. “We live in Ocala and had no idea there was any issue until we got here. Some people farther north in Bradenton Beach where we’re staying told us to come down here. I’m so glad we did.”

Tittel says while some parts of the Island may not be under the advisory, people should still be aware that bacteria levels may be high because they can’t test everywhere. Anyone with health conditions or open wounds should exercise caution even if the green flag is flying. In areas with a no-swim advisory, there will be a double red flag.

As a participant in the Healthy Beaches Program, DOH-Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent to labs to determine whether or not levels of enteric (fecal) bacteria – which can cause disease, infections or rashes – are acceptable based on EPA standards. If levels are unacceptable, a no-swim advisory is issued; the advisory is lifted once the levels read as acceptable.

DOH-Manatee received test results from samples taken at all four beaches on July 26 that show an elevated level of enteric bacteria.

According to Tittel, the cause of the bacteria is rain and runoff that washes animal feces into the water. The recent heavy storms have churned up the sand beneath the surface; this mixed with extremely warm water is believed to aid in the elevated levels.