In the most extreme situations, doctors may have no choice but to amputate limbs in order to stop the infection from spreading further and to remove the damaged or dying tissue.
The Florida Health Department noted that although the current infection numbers are lower than the previous year, last year’s cases were unusually high due to Hurricane Helene. The storm led to major flooding, which resulted in more people coming into contact with contaminated water.
On its official website, the Florida Health Department has issued a strong advisory for people who might be especially vulnerable to these types of infections.
Specifically, people who have fresh cuts, scrapes, or have recently gotten tattoos or piercings are considered to be at a much higher risk of contracting Vibrio vulnificus.
To help reduce the risk of infection, the CDC recommends cooking seafood thoroughly, keeping raw shellfish away from cooked foods, and avoiding warm, brackish water if you have an open wound or broken skin.
One person who unfortunately experienced this firsthand is Peter Volpi Jr., who has shared his story of intense pain and the toll the infection took on his life.
He described the ordeal as “the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt” and said it left him stuck in bed for months as he recovered.
