Your Voice Your Vote 2024

Live results
Updated: Nov. 11, 11:41 AM ET

National Election Results: presidential

republicans icon Projection: Trump is President-elect
226
312
226
312
Harris
71,147,991
270 to win
Trump
74,677,433
Expected vote reporting: 94%

Cases of dangerous bacteria doubled in Florida following Hurricane Helene

Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria, increases in concentration during flooding.

October 21, 2024, 1:20 PM

Hurricane Helene left not only a path of destruction after landing in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, but also a rise in dangerous bacteria, new data shows.

The number of cases of vibrio vulnificus, a type of bacteria known to increase in concentration during heavy rain or flooding, doubled in Florida following Helene’s landfall on Sept. 26, according to data from the state's Department of Health.

There have been 38 confirmed cases of vibrio vulnificus since Helene made landfall, bringing the total in the state to 76.

Nationally, around 150 to 200 cases of vibrio vulnificus are reported each year.

The infection can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, also known as ‘flesh-eating disease’, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Many people may require intensive care or limb amputations and about one in five people with this infection die, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Flood waters inundate the main street after Hurricane Helene passed offshore on Sept. 27, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Both Helene and Milton, a hurricane that made landfall in Siesta Key on Oct. 10 as Category 3 storm, brought record-breaking storm surge to Florida's Gulf Coast. The storm surge causes salt water to mix with fresh water, becoming a breeding place for bacteria, according to Dr. Scott Rivkees, a pediatric endocrinologist and physician-scientist who served as Florida's state surgeon general and secretary of health from 2019 to 2021.

"Where you have salt water meeting fresh water, this is where vibrio can thrive," Rivkees told ABC News. "And if individuals are exposed to brackish water and they have an open cut, or they're immunocompromised, such as having cancer, vibrio can take hold."

Editor’s Picks

Rivkees, also a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, described vibrio as "one of the most aggressive" types of bacterial infections that exist, and said infection can lead to skin removal, amputation or even death.

He said that long after a hurricane has passed, water, specifically floodwater, remains the biggest risk to humans.

"People need to recognize that more people will die after a storm than during the storm, and drowning is the major thing that we worry about," Rivkees said, adding that a major danger is driving a car through floodwaters.

In addition to drowning in floodwaters, people may be unknowingly exposed to dangers, especially if they have open wounds or develop cuts while they are working to clear debris.

Rivkees said in Florida, septic systems can spill into groundwater during hurricanes, causing the kind of brackish water where bacteria can thrive.

Boats damaged during hurricanes can also unleash septic holding tanks and marine fuel oils that end up mixed in with floodwaters in residential areas, posing another health risk, according to Rivkees.

Brandon Marlow walks through surge waters flooding the street after Hurricane Milton came ashore in the Sarasota area on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

In Florida's climate, floodwaters can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, according to Rivkees, as well as places where threatening wildlife like water moccasins are found after their natural habitats were disrupted by the storm.

Dangerous debris, including sharp or large objects or downed wires, can often be hidden under muddy floodwaters, also leading to injury.

In Cedar Key, about 100 miles from where Helene made landfall, local medical providers saw a rise in cases of cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that can occur after exposure to flood water, according to Tami Wilkes, APRN, who works at Cedar Key Healthcare, a local medical clinic.

Wilkes told ABC News the clinic also saw a rise in patients with lacerations, cases of asthma and bronchitis, and those in need of tetanus injections, showing the multiple health risks that hurricane floodwaters can bring.

"The county health department brought a bus to provide tetanus injections and we worked together providing sutures, antibiotics and nebulizer treatments in effort to meet the needs," Wilkes told ABC News, adding, "We are working long hours to get the medical office back open."

Safety tips to know

Rivkees said the most important thing residents can do after a hurricane is to listen to public safety officials' guidance on when it is safe to return.

"There's always a temptation to get back there as soon as you can, and you're going to have first responders there who are trying to clear the area and make sure that the area is safe and secure," he explained. "Individuals should really listen for their public officials to give the all clear when it is safe to return, because otherwise that could help impede the response."

If in an area where floodwater is present, Rivkees said people should be aware of any open wounds on their body and should always wear protective clothing.

Members of the media work in flooded streets after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles if they "must" enter floodwater.

The CDC also says people should sanitize after coming into contact with floodwater, including using soap and clean water for their skin and hot water and detergent for clothes.

Open wounds that come into contact with floodwater should also be cleaned with soap and clean water and checked by a medical provider if necessary, according to the CDC.

Signs that an infection is serious enough for medical attention include redness, swelling or soreness around an open wound, any sign of a foreign object embedded in the wound and other physical symptoms including fever, nausea, confusion, extreme pain, shortness of breath or high heart rate, according to the CDC.

Editor's note: This report was originally published on Oct. 9, 2024.

Popular Reads

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com