Florida sees rise in flesh-eating bacteria amid Ian concerns
Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian
By AP News
Published - Oct 19, 2022, 08:34 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 24, 2023, 02:15 AM EDT
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian.
The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. That compares with 34 cases and 10 deaths reported during all of 2021.
In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths.
Health officials didn't give a breakdown of how many of the cases were before or after Ian struck.
