Vibrio Sepsis Bacteria Detected in West Coast Tidal Flats... Warning for Raw Shellfish Consumption

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, the cause of Vibrio sepsis, have been detected for the first time this year in the mudflats of the West Coast.

The Chungnam Provincial Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 2nd that Vibrio vulnificus bacteria were detected in the mudflats of Changseon-ri, Seocheon-gun, collected on the 27th of last month.

Vibrio sepsis is a Class 3 legally designated infectious disease caused by Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Typically, the first patients occur between May and June when seawater temperatures rise above 18 degrees Celsius, with patient cases concentrated between August and September.

In particular, the Institute explained that the fatality rate is around 50%, requiring special caution. In fact, in Chungnam, there were 2 cases of Vibrio sepsis in 2016 with 1 death, 3 cases in 2017 with 2 deaths, 6 cases in 2018 with 2 deaths, and 1 case in 2019.

Vibrio sepsis is easily contracted by consuming raw seafood contaminated with Vibrio or through wounds on the skin exposed to contaminated seawater.

It mainly occurs in individuals with weakened immune systems such as those with impaired liver function, alcoholics, and patients with chronic renal failure, rather than healthy people.

After a short incubation period of about 1 to 2 days following infection, symptoms such as wound infections and primary sepsis appear, accompanied by sudden chills, fever, systemic symptoms, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and skin lesions.

A representative from the Institute of Health and Environment said, “With the rise in seawater temperature during summer, the habitat for Vibrio bacteria improves, raising concerns about a rapid increase in Vibrio sepsis patients. To prevent infection, avoid eating raw seafood and refrain from exposing skin wounds to seawater.”

Meanwhile, since April, the Institute has been conducting a surveillance project for Vibrio sepsis bacteria in seawater and mudflats at 30 sites across 6 regions on the West Coast in cooperation with local health centers of the respective cities and counties.

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