Three people in the New York City area have died in recent weeks and a fourth person was hospitalized after contracting infections from a flesh-eating bacteria that can be caused by eating raw oysters or swimming in saltwater, health officials in New York and Connecticut said.
Infections from the bacteria, called Vibrio vulnificus, are rare but extremely dangerous.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in five people who become infected die.
People with open wounds should avoid swimming in warm seawater, he said.
And people with compromised immune systems should be careful with eating or handling raw seafood.
Persons:
Dr, James McDonald
Organizations:
New, Disease Control
Locations:
New York City, New York, Connecticut