Emily Chan
Two additional cases from residents in North Carolina were likely due to the microbe entering a cut on the hand while preparing raw seafood.
One case from a Connecticut resident stemmed from consuming raw oysters. In another patient from North Carolina, the person ate raw oysters and had wound exposure to brackish water.
The cases cannot be entirely blamed on the heat waves, although they did help create favorable environmental conditions for the growth of the bacteria.
Public health officials warn that these infections could become more common as sea waters warm. People can prevent illness by taking the proper precautions, such as avoiding wound contact with salt water, brackish water, and raw seafood, along with cooking seafood thoroughly before consumption.
