A Texas man has contracted a flesh-eating bacteria after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Austin, Texas, TV station KXAN.
One man, Brian Parrott, had to have his leg cut after swimming in infected waters in Galveston. The other, Adrian Ruiz, was hospitalized and is battling to keep his right leg after swimming in Port Aransas.
Beach officials have been receiving calls from people asking if the water is safe.
Both were diagnosed with an infection of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria that lives in warm seawater. People can be infected with the bacteria through cuts by eating undercooked raw shellfish.
Port Aransas City Manager David Parsons says since there are no specific testing for Vibrio and they're still trying to figure out Adrian's case, beach visitors don't need to avoid the beach but just need to cautious.
So far in 2016, the Texas Department of State Health Services noted there have been 27 reported cases of Vibrio. Out of those 27 cases, officials say 41 percent of them got contact with water. In 2015, the department had 102 cases reported, 45 percent of those involved contact with water.
Prevention Tips to reduce risk of vibriosis
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked oysters or other shellfish. Cook them before eating.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water after handing raw shellfish.
- Avoid contaminating cooked shellfish with raw shellfish and its juices.
- Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound (including cuts and scrapes), or cover your wound with a waterproof - bandage if there’s a possibility it could come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
-Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to seawater or raw seafood or its juices.
-If you develop a skin infection, tell your medical provider if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
-Opening oyster with gloves on
