A scanning electron microscopic image of a grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images, courtesy Centers for Disease Control / colorized by James Gathany)
The death of a Long Island resident has been linked to a bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater that has also been blamed for two deaths in Connecticut, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.
The Vibrio vulnificus bacteria was identified in a Suffolk County resident who died recently, Hochul said.
“While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,” Hochul said in a news release.
Precautions for avoiding the potentially deadly bacteria include protecting open wounds from seawater and, for those with compromised immune systems, forgoing raw or undercooked shellfish, she said.
The death in Suffolk County is being investigated to determine if the bacteria was encountered in New York waters or elsewhere, the governor said, adding that health care providers should consider Vibrio vulnificus when seeing patients with severe wound infections or sepsis.
Health officials say anyone can get vibriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, but those with liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system, or people taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels may be more susceptible to infection or more likely to develop complications.
The two people who died in Connecticut were among three in the state known to have been infected with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria this year, Connecticut heath officials said. All were between the ages of 60 and 80, the officials said.
As of Thursday, June 11, the COVID-19 public health emergency is officially over. The sunsetting of the declaration, which was first put in place three years at the outset of a pandemic, has widespread implications for the cost of COVID tests and treatment. Cheddar News senior reporter Chloe Aiello breaks it down.
New blood donations rules will allow sexually active gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships to give in the FDA guidelines ease decades-old restrictions put in place to protect the blood supply from HIV.
Mother's Day is right around the corner. If you're still looking for last-minute gift ideas, lifestyle expert Denise Caldwell stopped by the Cheddar News studio to give her recommendations.
Monday night's episode of Jeopardy spurred an online debate and some fans were not happy after all three contestants struggled to pronounce the last name of one Russian author.
A U.S. Army sergeant who fatally shot an armed protester at a Black Lives Matter march in Texas was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday, after prosecutors used his social media history and text messages to portray him as a racist who may commit violence again.
The Biden administration on Thursday will begin denying asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through.
Federal health advisers said Wednesday that a decades-old birth control pill should be sold without a prescription, paving the way for a likely U.S. approval of the first over-the-counter contraceptive medication.
On this edition of Stretching Your Dollar, professional resume writer Richard Lambert joins us to discuss common mistakes around formatting and length. He also highlights the importance of including the right keywords in your resume to get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
