A 71-year-old man dies of a bacterial infection after eating oysters in Florida

A 71-year-old man died of a bacterial infection after eating an oyster at a Florida restaurant in Sarasota County, according to local reports.

The Florida Department of Health did not identify the man or restaurant but the man died on July 10.

In articles published on Twitter, the Department of Health identified the bacterium in question as Vibrio vulnificus a rare bacterium that normally lives in warm, naturally occurring seawater in salty or brackish water. ] Plastic-eating bacteria discovered by students could help solve the crisis

The Department of Health has stated that the specific bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is not a flesh-eating bacterium – despite being mis-labeled in this fashion – in a series of posts published on Twitter. According to the CDC, Vibrio vulnificus is one of dozens of species of Vibrio bacteria causing Vibrosis, which people usually get by eating raw or undercooked shellfish cooked, and in particular oysters.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause skin infections when an open sore is exposed to the seawater. The CDC says that bacteria can also infect the bloodstream.

Michael Drennon, director of the disease intervention services program for the Florida Department of Health said that the symptoms of diarrhea, fever and other symptoms typically associated with gastrointestinal disease, Vibrio vulnificus ABC affiliated WWSB. Mr. Drennon told local Fox 13 that officials did not believe that the 71-year-old man had been exposed to seawater before eating oysters at the restaurant.

"We have a person who eats raw oysters and, to our knowledge, has not been exposed to salt water, became seriously ill and died," he said. said.

According to the website of the Department of Health, there were no deaths or cases of Vibrio vulnificus reported in Sarasota last year. There have been three deaths and 16 cases of bacteria reported throughout the state in 2018 so far. The Department of Health recommends that people with compromised immune systems wear foot protection to prevent cuts from rocks and shells on the beach.