3 die from rare flesh-eating bacteria in New York and Connecticut 

At least three people have died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria in New York and Connecticut, officials said on Wednesday. 

The virus, officially known as Vibrio vulnificus or vibriosis, can be found in warm brackish waters or raw shellfish. It can be found in higher concentrations from May to October when the weather is warmer. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, and chills. 

Two people in Connecticut were infected with the virus after swimming in two separate locations on the Long Island Sound. Both individuals died, said Christopher Boyle, director of communications for the state’s Department of Public Health. 

A third person was infected with the virus in July after eating raw oysters but survived said the Department of Public Health. All three victims were aged between 60 and 80. 

One individual who died in New York’s Suffolk County, in eastern Long Island, was found to be infected with the virus, said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a statement. Officials are investigating whether the individual contracted the disease in New York or elsewhere. 

“While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,” Governor Hochul said. 

“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, including protecting open wounds from seawater and for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish which may carry the bacteria,” she said. 

Health officials are urging people with wounds, cuts, or scrapes to avoid exposing their skin to warm seawater or cover their wounds with a waterproof bandage in order to prevent exposure to vibriosis. 

Additionally, those with a compromised immune system should avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish, which can carry the bacteria.