Do you have to be frightened about getting flesh-eating micro organism from swimming in Massachusetts?

Health officers are warning folks with sure well being points to not swim in Massachusetts coastal waters or eat uncooked shellfish. This comes after one individual contracted a flesh-eating micro organism referred to as Vibrio vulnificus after swimming at a Falmouth beach final week.

At the identical time, specialists say the micro organism is unlikely to trigger sickness in typically wholesome folks.

“It’s a particular risk to those who have underlying medical conditions, such as liver disease, [or are] immunocompromised from drugs or cancer. Even diabetes can increase the risk of this infection,” mentioned Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for infectious illness on the state Department of Public Health.

People can get contaminated via an open minimize or wound, Madoff mentioned — together with a latest piercing or tattoo. They can be contaminated by ingesting uncooked or undercooked shellfish that decide up the micro organism.

Still, infectious illness specialists say wholesome individuals who don’t have complicating elements don’t have to be too frightened.

“The typical person who’s healthy, whose skin is intact, has really no reason to be concerned,” mentioned Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, who heads the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “And the typical person wouldn’t have to be concerned about eating clams and oysters, for example.”

For those that are contaminated, although, the micro organism can progress rapidly and show lethal.

“The reality is that it spreads so quickly and many people don’t get to care quickly enough to prevent the severe consequences, including amputation [and] severe sepsis,” mentioned Dr. Shira Doron, chief an infection management officer at Tufts Medicine Health System. She mentioned it’s good for folks to be on the alert, as a result of if medical doctors catch the an infection rapidly and prescribe therapy, they will stop the worst outcomes.

The publicity occurred at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. The Department of Public Health didn’t disclose the situation of the contaminated affected person. The city notes that there isn’t a advisory or closure in impact for the seaside.

“Cape Cod’s beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community,” Scott McGann, well being agent for the city of Falmouth, mentioned in a written statement. “By taking a few simple precautions, residents and visitors, and particularly anyone who is vulnerable or immunocompromised, can continue to enjoy them safely.”

While Vibrio vulnificus infections are uncommon in Massachusetts, they’re not extraordinary. According to the state’s public well being division, there have been seven confirmed circumstances amongst Massachusetts residents within the final two years. Of these, three sufferers seemingly have been contaminated in different states and 4 have been seemingly uncovered in Massachusetts.

And many agree the micro organism might develop into extra frequent within the Northeast. Madoff famous that traditionally, it was discovered additional south in Gulf Coast states.

“Increasingly it seems to have moved north,” he mentioned. “So I do think it’s associated with warming waters.”

Massachusetts has already had a number of warmth waves this summer time, contributing to warmer-than-usual water temperatures. And Doron notes that because the local weather continues to heat, the micro organism might develop into extra frequent in Massachusetts.

“That is not necessarily an epidemiologic phenomenon that we are already seeing, but it is something that we have to be watchful for,” she mentioned. “And we are seeing that with other diseases, specifically mosquito-borne diseases, like way more dengue virus in the United States than we typically see in the past.”

And identical to mosquitoes, creatures like ticks and microorganisms like Vibrio vulnificus are making their approach as much as New England.

“This is another example of the kinds of health consequences, particularly infectious disease-related consequences, that we can see as a consequence of environmental change,” Kuritzkes mentioned.