5 died after entering the sea: The deadly bacterium that is well known in Israel too
Five out of nine patients in Louisiana died this year after skin wounds were exposed to seawater. The aggressive bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is also known in Israel and can penetrate the body even following a small injury from a fish.
The small wound that can become deadly: Health authorities in the state of Louisiana in the United States have issued a warning following an unusual increase in the number of severe infections caused by the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, sometimes referred to as the "flesh-eating bacterium." Since the beginning of the year, nine patients have been diagnosed in the state, five of whom have died. In all nine cases, the bacterium penetrated following exposure of a wound to seawater, and all patients suffered from underlying conditions that put them at increased risk for severe illness.
The number of patients is not high, but the death rate is unusual. During the corresponding period in the previous ten years, an average of seven cases and one death were recorded in Louisiana. This year, five out of the nine patients died. Following the data, state authorities are calling on the public, and especially people suffering from chronic diseases, to avoid exposing cuts and open wounds to seawater and brackish water.
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that is naturally found in the marine environment and in warm coastal waters. Its concentration increases especially in the hot months, usually between May and October. Infection can occur when water containing the bacterium comes into contact with a cut, abrasion, or open wound, and also following the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters.
Despite the nickname "flesh-eating bacterium," the bacterium does not eat the flesh itself. The nickname refers to its ability in certain cases to cause devastating infection of the soft tissues and necrosis that spreads rapidly. The infection may begin with redness, swelling, and pain in the wound area, and later appear as a change in skin color and blisters. In severe cases, the bacterium can penetrate the blood, cause sepsis, lead to the need for urgent surgeries, and even amputation of a limb. According to American health authorities, approximately one in five people who contract a Vibrio vulnificus infection dies, and sometimes the deterioration occurs within a day or two.
The aggressive bacterium is not a stranger to Israel either. The Israeli Ministry of Health defines it as a bacterium naturally found in seawater and on beaches and also in fish farming ponds, and especially in tilapia fish, known in Israel also by the name "musht." Infection can occur during the handling of the fish, when a fin, bone, or other part of the fish wounds the skin and allows the bacterium to penetrate the body.
Israel also has a special medical history with the bacterium. In the years 1996 and 1997, a strain of Vibrio vulnificus appeared in the country that was later called "biotype 3," and it was linked to severe soft tissue infections following injuries from fish bones during fish handling. The outbreak in Israel became part of the global medical literature on the bacterium and the link between it and the handling of tilapia fish.
Just two years ago, the Israeli Ministry of Health published another notice following a case where a fish farmer in the Beit She'an Valley was infected with Vibrio vulnificus after being pricked by a tilapia fish during his work. The case illustrated that even a prick that seems marginal at first can in rare cases lead to a significant infection.
The risk receives special attention in Israel around the holidays, when the demand for fish rises and many families prepare them at home. The Ministry of Health has previously published a dedicated warning ahead of Rosh Hashanah against Vibrio vulnificus while handling raw fish. In the guidelines, it was recommended to purchase fish from authorized places and ensure that the fish has already been cleaned of fins, scales, and gills. For people with chronic diseases, a weakened immune system, or open wounds on their hands, it was recommended to avoid direct contact with fish.
The danger is not that the scale itself is necessarily "infected." The bacterium may be found on the fish and in the water environment where it grew, and the scale, fin, or bone may create the injury through which the bacterium penetrates the skin. For this reason, even a tiny wound while cleaning a fish can be significant, especially for those suffering from underlying conditions. The Ministry of Health notes among the risk groups people with chronic diseases and a weakened immune system.
Also in the case of exposure to seawater, the central recommendation is not to enter the water with an open wound. If there was exposure anyway, the area should be washed thoroughly. Anyone who notices afterwards expanding redness, swelling, local heat, significant pain, or a change in skin color is asked to seek medical treatment quickly and mention that the wound was exposed to seawater or a fish. In the case of a severe infection, the speed of diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and, if necessary, surgery to remove infected tissue can be critical.
