First Vibrio Sepsis Death of the Year Reported: "Caution Urged When Consuming Seafood"

KDCA Urges Extra Caution for People with Underlying Conditions Such as Liver Disease and Diabetes

The first death from Vibrio sepsis this year has occurred, prompting the disease control authorities to urge the public to exercise caution when consuming seafood and coming into contact with seawater.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on April 24, a man in his 40s, identified as Mr. A, was hospitalized in Gyeonggi Province on April 21 with swelling, blisters, and pain in his leg. The next day, he was diagnosed with Vibrio sepsis, and his symptoms worsened, leading to death. The agency explained that Mr. A belonged to a high-risk group for Vibrio sepsis, as he had underlying conditions including liver disease.

Vibrio sepsis is an acute sepsis caused by Vibrio vulnificus infection and is designated as a Category 3 notifiable infectious disease. Infection occurs when one eats raw seafood contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus or when broken skin comes into contact with contaminated seawater.

The Vibrio vulnificus bacterium mainly inhabits seawater, tidal flats, and shellfish. The first patients of the year typically appear between April and June, when seawater temperatures rise above 18 degrees Celsius, with the majority of cases occurring from August to October.

In Korea, dozens of infections and deaths are reported every year. Last year, a provisional total of 68 people were infected, with 26 deaths.

If infected with Vibrio sepsis, patients experience acute fever, chills, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Within 24 hours of symptom onset, rashes, swelling, and hemorrhagic blisters can develop on the legs. If these symptoms appear, it is critical to visit a hospital immediately for prompt treatment.

Individuals with liver disease, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, alcohol dependence, those taking corticosteroids or anticancer drugs, patients with malignant tumors, aplastic anemia, or leukemia, organ transplant recipients, and people with immune deficiencies are classified as high-risk groups. These individuals should avoid contact with seawater if they have skin wounds, and must thoroughly cook shellfish and seafood before consumption.

Im Seungkwan, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "To prevent Vibrio sepsis, it is important to follow preventive guidelines, such as thoroughly cooking seafood like shellfish, crabs, and shrimp, and to seek immediate treatment if symptoms occur. In particular, high-risk groups such as those with chronic liver disease, diabetes, or alcohol dependence should exercise even greater caution, as the fatality rate is higher in these populations."

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