Louisiana Reports Surge in Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - The Louisiana State Department of Health (LDH) has confirmed that three more residents have contracted flesh-eating bacteria in the past month.

The LDH also said that this year Louisiana has had 20 cases of vibrio vulnificus, flesh-eating bacteria, and four of those residents have passed away from complications.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says:

Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in certain coastal waters. They are found in higher numbers in May through October, when water temperatures are warmer.

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The LDH says some Louisiana residents were infected here in state, however, others were exposed in other states along the gulf coast.

Theresa Sokol with the Louisiana Department of Health said that's it's very challenging to find out what body of water the patients were infected in. She said in their interview process that most people can't tell them what waterway or coastal water they were in.

The CDC Flesh-Eating Bacteria Prevention Recommendations:

• If you have a cut, sore, or open wound, stay away from brackish or salty water.
• As soon as you get a wound wet, wash it with soap and fresh water.
• Steer clear of undercooked fish and raw oysters.
• If you become ill or observe symptoms of illness after eating seafood or being in the ocean, consult a physician.

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