A flesh-eating bacterium has caused at least seven illnesses and four fatalities.

The deaths were claimed to have happened in the counties of Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. John, and health officials say the bacterium has been spreading throughout Florida (via CBS News).

Health officials warn of the potential risks of this bacteria in the summer, and in addition to the four persons who died, at least seven others have also become unwell.

Since 2016, there have been 448 cases in Florida linked to this bacteria, including 100 fatalities, according to CBS News. Other Florida counties, such as Santa Rosa and Manatee, have confirmed more cases.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria can be exposed through tainted water and by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, which “concentrates” inside the animal.

The CDC reports less severe gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps. The bacteria, vibrio vulunificus, thrives in saltwater and brackish water, which is a mixture of salt and fresh water.

The consequences can be far worse, though, if vibrio vulunificus enters a person’s bloodstream or infects an exposed wound. This can result in “dangerously low” blood pressure, skin blisters, and necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the flesh-eating disease.

In the worst situations, a physician could have to amputate a patient’s arms or leg in order to remove diseased or dead tissue.

According to the Florida Health Department, the number of infections is currently lower than it was a year ago, but they think that the effects of Hurricane Helene contributed to those numbers since flooding exposed more people to tainted water.

According to PEOPLE, a comparable increase was observed in 2022 following Hurricane Ian.

The Florida Health page states that individuals who might be more susceptible to catching the sickness have been sent a special caution.

Specifically, vibrio vulunificus is very likely to infect people with “fresh cuts or scrapes,” ink, or new piercings.

The page adds: “Individuals who are immunocompromised, e.g chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune system, should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells on the beach.”

The CDC advises consuming cooked seafood, avoiding cross-contamination between raw and cooked shellfish, and avoiding warm water near an open wound to lower the potential risk of infection.

Peter Volpi Jr., who was unlucky enough to get the condition, has talked of the anguish and suffering he has endured as a result.

He told WFLA that he thinks he got it while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and described the discomfort as “the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt,” which left him bedridden for months.

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