Public health officials in Lee County, Florida, are warning of a spike in potentially deadly infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Sept. 28, and the storm surge and flooding led to the increase in infections, CBS News reports. Vibrio vulnificus is a species of bacteria that lives in warm, brackish seawater. People normally come in contact with it through raw or undercooked seafood, and it can also enter the body through cuts and other open wounds. Once the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can cause sepsis.
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