Three people in Connecticut and New York have died after contracting infections from a rare flesh-eating bacteria, The New York Times reported Aug. 16.
Connecticut health officials have confirmed three Vibrio vulnificus cases since July 1 among individuals between the ages of 60 to 80, two of which were fatal. The infections mark the first cases reported since 2020. On Aug. 16, New York City confirmed a third death in a Long Island resident.
V. vulnificus bacteria are commonly found in warm coastal waters, and most people become infected by consuming raw or undercooked shellfish. The bacteria can also enter the body through open wounds and cause a necrotizing skin infection, which can sometimes result in limb amputation.
One individual in Connecticut reported consuming raw oysters from an out-of-state restaurant, while the other two sickened individuals reported exposure to salt or brackish water, according to a July 28 news release from the state health department.
Health officials are still investigating the death in New York City to confirm how the individual developed vibriosis, which is caused by several types of bacteria, including V. vulnificus.