The Florida Department of Health issued an urgent warning about flesh-eating bacteria ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall. NBC reported.
Health officials are advising people in affected areas to avoid direct contact with floodwaters if they can avoid it, due to a type of flesh-eating bacteria known as Vibrio. It is especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems, liver disease, or open wounds.
“Vibriobacteria, which are generally found in warm coastal waters, can cause disease when swallowed or when open wounds are exposed to dirty water. After heavy rainfall and floods, the concentration of these bacteria may increase, especially in brackish and salty water environments,” he said.
Experts say you should avoid direct skin contact with flood waters, but in such a case it is recommended to wash your hands and affected areas with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Symptoms of Vibrio include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal pain, fever, chills, unusually slow or accelerated heart rate, confusion, and disorientation. If you think you have been exposed to bacteria you should seek medical attention immediately.
Hurricane Milton, which has been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm, will make landfall on the Florida coast on Wednesday evening.
On Monday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a dire warning to the 5.5 million residents who call the area home. “I can tell you right now that they could have done this to others, it's never happened. Helene was a wake-up call, this is literally a disaster,” Castor said. “And I can say this without any drama: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you will die.”