(NEW YORK) — Louisiana health officials on Thursday urged residents to take precautions following an uptick in severe cases of a type of dangerous flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.
So far this year, the state has reported nine cases, five of them fatal. During the same period in previous years, Louisiana averaged seven cases and one death.
The Louisiana Department of Health said all nine cases reported this year were linked to wounds exposed to seawater and that all of the patients had underlying health conditions.
“Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers from May to October, when water temperatures are warmer. Infection can occur when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters,” the Louisiana Department of Health said in a statement.
Vibrio infection can result in gastrointestinal illness, wound infection, or blood poisoning, officials said.
“Some species, including Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. People with severe infections may require intensive care or limb amputation,” health officials added. “About one in five people with Vibrio vulnificus infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.”
Authorities said that people should seek medical care “immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm, or discolored,” and that the health care provider should be told about water exposure.
Close-up of a mosquito biting human skin. (Joao Paulo Burini/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — The Florida Department of Health confirmed the state’s first death from dengue fever this year as cases of the mosquito-borne illness continue to rise.
The department did not provide any details about the patient including name, age, sex or residence.
The Tampa Bay Times, which first reported the death, described the patient as an 80-year-old Tampa woman who died on Sept. 4.
The FDOH did not immediately return ABC News’ request for comment.
For the week ending Sept. 12, Florida has confirmed 152 locally acquired cases of dengue, according to data from the state health department.
This is the highest number recorded since 2023, when the state saw 189 locally acquired cases over the course of the year, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.
Hillsborough County — which includes Tampa — has reported the most cases so far this year with 134, according to the FDOH. Other counties with confirmed cases include Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas.
Dengue viruses are spread through bites from infected Aedes species mosquitoes, mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions, according to the CDC. These mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading Zika and chikungunya viruses.
Dengue can be caused by dengue virus strains 1, 2, 3 or 4. A person also can be infected with dengue multiple times over the course of their life.
About one in four people who contract dengue develop symptoms which typically last two to seven days and are usually mild. This may include fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain and bone pain.
About one in 20 infected people will develop severe dengue, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and, in some cases, death, the CDC said.
There are no disease-specific treatments for dengue. The CDC recommends rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. Patients with severe illness often need to be hospitalized and receive additional supportive treatments, such as intravenous fluids.
The CDC warns patients not to take aspirin or ibuprofen; it can trigger inflammation or bleeding of the stomach lining.
Currently, there is no dengue vaccine available in the U.S. In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine for children between ages 9 and 16 who have a laboratory-confirmed previous dengue virus infection and live in areas where dengue is endemic, but it has since been discontinued.
Methods to help prevent dengue infection include using effective mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants when outside and staying in places with air conditioning when possible. The CDC also recommends emptying containers of still or stagnant water to eliminate places where mosquitos can breed.
ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
3D illustration of Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, suspended in a microscopic environment. (Getty Images stock photo/Gilnature)
(NEW YORK) — The North Carolina teenager who died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri was likely infected from a water feature at a community center, according to state and local officials.
Naegleria fowleri, also known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis or PAM, has been found in warm freshwater, including ponds, lakes and rivers, and it grows best in hotter water, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
“The amoeba does not cause illness if swallowed but can be fatal if water with the amoeba in it is forced up the nose into the brain,” NCDHHS said.
The North Carolina teenager was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 22 and died on Aug. 31, officials said. NCDHHS said at the time that it was working with federal and local partners to investigate all possible sources of the infection.
A report released Tuesday by NCDHHS found the teen was most likely infected by a water feature at a community center in Durham County, county officials said.
Investigators determined that on Aug. 13, the teen had contact — including splashing water on their face — with a water feature in the garden of a community-based mental health care center, according to the NCDHHS report.
“No other potential sources of exposure were identified,” the report said.
The mental health care center said in a statement, “Our hearts are broken for the young boy who lost his life and for his family. We are committed to supporting his family and our community through this devastating loss. We will continue to fully cooperate with public health officials.”
The county said the water feature has been closed since Aug. 28, when testing for Naegleria fowleri began.
The U.S. usually sees fewer than 10 cases of Naegleria fowleri infection each year. NCDHHS said the first symptoms can be severe headache, nausea, vomiting and fever, and later symptoms include stiff neck, seizures and coma. NCDHHS said, “once symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within about five days.”
(NEW YORK) — Los Angeles County is seeing the highest number of West Nile virus cases in nearly a decade, health officials said Monday.
The county has reported 100 cases so far this year. This is the highest figure since 2017 when 268 cases were recorded for the entire season.
The number of current cases is also greater than the five-year average during the same period, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LA County DPH).
So far, 94 people have been hospitalized and five people have died, the health department said.
Of the 100 cases, 96 were symptomatic with the most recent onset of illness occurring on Sept. 4, according to LA County DPH.
The health department said that one-third of infected patients live in the East Los Angeles area, about a quarter live in the San Fernando Valley area and about a fifth live in the South Bay region.
It comes as the California Department of Public Health is reporting the highest levels of West Nile virus activity in five years, local health officials said.
So far, the U.S. has seen 671 cases this year across 42 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The true number of infections is likely higher because cases typically peak in August and September and reporting is delayed.
Public health officials have been warning that rising temperatures have allowed mosquitoes to thrive, increasing the risk of the diseases they spread, including West Nile.
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S., according to the CDC.
Mosquitoes typically become infected with the virus after feeding on infected birds and then spread it to humans and other animals, the federal health agency said.
Risk increases with older age; certain medical conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure and kidney disease; and a weakened immune system.
Most people infected are believed to have lifelong immunity but those with certain conditions may have their immunity wane over time.
Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most symptoms disappear, but weakness and fatigue may last for weeks or months.
About one in 150 patients will develop severe disease leading to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis, inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Both can lead to death, the CDC says.
Each year, about 2,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with West Nile virus, but the CDC says this is likely an undercount because most people either don’t develop symptoms or believe their mild symptoms were caused by another illness.
More than 1,300 people develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, the CDC says.
There are no licensed vaccines or medications that protect against the virus. The CDC recomemnds using insect repellant, wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants, treating clothing and gear and taking steps to control mosquitoes. The last step includes putting screens on windows and doors, using air conditioning and emptying out containers with still water.
