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September 25, 2023 - Severe Vibrio vulnificus Infections in the United States Associated with Warming Coastal Waters


Monday, September 25, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory on September 1, 2023, to notify healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health departments about recent reports of fatal Vibrio vulnificus infections, including wound and foodborne infections. CDC urges clinicians to consider V. vulnificus as a possible cause of infected wounds that were exposed to coastal waters, especially near the Gulf of Mexico or the East Coast during periods with warmer coastal sea surface temperatures.  About one in five people with V. vulnificus infections die, sometimes within 1-2 days of becoming infected.  As of September 18, 2023, DC Health has not received any reports of V. vulnificus cases. The purpose of this health notice is to provide recommendations for prompt diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management of  V. vulnificus wound infections. Providers are reminded that all vibrio infections are nationally notifiable and need to be reported to DC Health.