First Detection of Vibrio Sepsis Bacteria This Year in Seohae, Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Vibrio vulnificus bacteria were detected for the first time this year in the West Sea of Gyeonggi Province. This is about three weeks earlier than usual.

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 14th that Vibrio vulnificus bacteria were detected for the first time this year in seawater from the West Coast of Gyeonggi Province on the 7th. This is more than three weeks earlier than the detection on April 29 last year.

Since March, the Institute has conducted tests on 68 seawater samples, 58 tidal flat samples, and 5 shellfish samples as part of the Vibrio vulnificus surveillance project. Experiments are also underway on two other suspicious samples besides the one detected this time.

Vibrio vulnificus bacteria mainly occur when seawater temperature is above 18 degrees Celsius. The Institute explained that the early detection is likely due to the seawater temperature rising to 17 degrees Celsius in early April.

Earlier, on January 13, Vibrio vulnificus bacteria were isolated for the first time this year from seawater in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, and Sanjicheon, Jeju City, followed by the first patient case on January 17.

Vibrio vulnificus infection is a Class 3 legally designated infectious disease with a high fatality rate of 30-50%, occurring nationwide with an average of around 50 patients annually from 2015 to last year.

It occurs frequently from May to October when water temperatures rise, and infection can occur by consuming raw seafood contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus or through contact between contaminated seawater and wounds.

Yoon Mi-hye, director of the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment, said, "It is especially important for high-risk patients to protect their health by thoroughly cooking seafood or washing it well with tap water before consumption."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.