Three dead from flesh-eating bacteria found in raw shellfish in New York and Connecticut

Three people on the East Coast have died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria, public health authorities said.

At least three people in New York and Connecticut have died from an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, better known as the flesh-eating bacteria.

‘While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,’ New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday.

The New York State Department of Health confirmed that one person in Suffolk County on Long Island died after exposure to Vibrio vulnificus.

‘As we investigate further, it is critical that all New Yorkers stay vigilant and take responsible precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,’ the governor said.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause vibriosis, a potentially deadly infection that can lead to ‘intensive care or limb amputations,’ the Centers for Disease Control said.

According to the CDC, one in five victims who contract the infection die, many within one to two days after getting sick.

People are often exposed to Vibrio vulnificus either by eating raw shellfish that live in brackish water, or exposing open cuts or wounds to brackish water.

Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, dangerously low blood pressure, skin lesions, and necrotizing fasciitis – the ‘flesh-eating’ condition that can appear around an open wound.

People who have compromised immune systems are much more at risk of contracting the infection.

Because the bacteria breeds in warm water, it is much more common between the months of May and October.

Last month, three people contracted Vibrio vulnificus infections in Connecticut, state health authorities said.

All three victims were between the ages of 60 and 80. Two of the victims infected have since died.

One case was linked to an individual who ate raw oysters at an out-of-state establishment, the Connecticut Department of Public Health said.

Two cases were linked to the Long Island Sound, a large tidal estuary of brackish water between the New York island and the Connecticut coastline.

Vibrio vulnificus breeds in warm brackish water, and has been detected in the Long Island Sound in the past.

Both patients in these cases also had pre-existing open cuts or wounds when they were exposed to the water in the Sound.

‘People should consider the potential risk of consuming raw oysters and exposure to salt or brackish water and take appropriate precautions,’ said Dr Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

She continued: ‘Particularly during the hottest months of the summer, bacteria are more likely to overgrow and contaminate raw shellfish. Given our current heat wave, this may be a time to exercise particular caution in what you consume.’

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.