Connecticut state health officials have issued a warning for the public in shoreline areas about the potential dangers of exposure to salt or brackish water along Long Island Sound, due to an unusually high number of Vibrio vulnificus infections.
Since July, five cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections have been reported to the Department of Public Health (one infection in July, four in August). The patients are from Fairfield (1), Middlesex (1), and New Haven (3) counties and are between 49 – 85 years of age (median 73); 4 are male, 1 female.
Two patients had septicemia (infection of the bloodstream) and three had serious wound infections. All five cases patients were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
All five cases reported exposure to salt or brackish water during activities such as swimming, crabbing, and boating. All five patients had pre-existing wounds or sustained new wounds during these activities which led to the Vibrio infections.
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