3 Dead, 1 Hospitalized from Flesh-Eating Bacteria Found in Raw Oysters and Saltwater

Getty

At least three people — two in Connecticut and one in New York — have died after being exposed to Vibrio vulnificus, a virulent flesh-eating bacteria.

In Connecticut, two people were infected after swimming in the brackish waters of the Long Island Sound, the body of water that separates the Connecticut shoreline with the North Shore of Long Island.

A third Connecticut resident was infected after eating raw oysters.

While an earlier statement from Connecticut’s Department of Public Healthlisted one fatality from the bacteria,a report from CNNWednesday says that now two people in the state have died.

And in New York, the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria was found in the body of a recently deceased man from Suffolk County, the easternmost part of Long Island which separates Long Island Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

Two people were infected after swimming in the Long Island Sound.Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The bacteria is commonly called a “flesh-eating bacteria” as it can causenecrotizing fasciitis, accordingto the CDC, which is “a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies.”

And while it’s unclear if the New York man encountered the bacteria in New York,Governor Kathy Hochulsaid, “While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous. 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.”

Cases of Vibrio aren’t confined the East Coast — or even to states with shorelines. In June,a Missouri man diedafter contracting the bacteria from eating raw oysters.

The bacteria can be found in brackish water.Getty

And in May, experts warned that the bacteria was clinging to plastic intertwined with Sargassum — a brown microalgae that resembles seaweed — andwashing ashore in Florida.

Symptoms of a Vibrio infection vary, depending on how the bacteria is contracted. For bloodstream infections, the CDC says someone may experience “fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.” However, for a wound infection, a fever will accompany swelling and discharge around the wound.

The CDC says a Vibrio infection is treatable with antibiotics, but in more dire cases, “doctors may need to amputate a patient’s legs or arms to remove dead or infected tissue.”

A Vibrio infection is fatal for 1 in 5 people, according to the CDC, which cautions that some people die within a day or two of exhibiting symptoms.

source: people.com