NEW YORK — The death of a Long Island resident has been linked to a bacterium found in raw shellfish or seawater and is also being attributed to two deaths in Connecticut, the New York governor said Wednesday. , Kathy Hochul.
The Vibrio vulnificus bacterium was identified in a Suffolk County resident who died recently, Hochul said.
“Although rare, the vibrio bacterium unfortunately made its way to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,” Hochul said in a news release.
Precautions to avoid potentially deadly bacteria include protecting open wounds from seawater and, for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish, he said.
The death in Suffolk County is being investigated to determine if the bacteria was found in New York waters or elsewhere, the governor said, adding that health care providers should consider Vibrio vulnificus when caring for patients with infections. severe injuries or sepsis.
Health officials say anyone can get vibriosis, the disease caused by the bacteria, but people with liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system, or people taking drugs to lower stomach acid levels may be more susceptible to it. infection or more likely to develop complications.
The two people who died in Connecticut were among three in the state known to be infected with Vibrio vulnificus bacteria this year, Connecticut health officials said. All were between the ages of 60 and 80, officials said.
