State Health Officials Remind Residents About 'Harmful Bacteria Like Vibrio'

UPDATE: On Friday, the Connecticut Department of Public Health shared on the social media platform "X" the following message regarding "harmful bacteria like Vibrio."

"Warmer CT waters = more harmful bacteria like Vibrio. Rising seas threaten drinking water and increase flooding risks. #SafeWatersCT #ClimateHealthCT

"Don’t swim with open cuts.
"Test private wells regularly.
"Pay attention to beach closures," state health officials posted on X on Friday.

Temperatures are forecast to soar into the 80s this weekend.

(Editor's note: State health officials shared a link to a 2023 news release on Friday afternoon that can be read in its entirety below. However, it is important to note that this information is from 2023 and not from today. The information below was reshared on Friday by state health officials. An earlier version of this story erroneously stated that the news was from 2025 and not 2023. We regret the error.)

****From 2023: Connecticut health officials are warning residents about the risks of eating raw shellfish and entering salt or brackish water along Long Island Sound, after three people were hospitalized with a rare bacterial infection, including one who died.

Since July 1 (2023), the state Department of Public Health has identified three cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections in people between the ages of 60 and 80. Officials said one patient reported eating raw oysters from an out-of-state restaurant. The other two reported being exposed to salt or brackish water in Long Island Sound while having open wounds or sustaining new cuts, which likely led to infection.

Health department officials advised residents not to eat raw or undercooked oysters or shellfish, to avoid salt or brackish water if they have open wounds, and to wash cuts thoroughly after any exposure to seawater or raw seafood.

"The identification of these severe cases, including one fatality, due to V. vulnificus is concerning," said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, in a statement back in 2023. "People should consider the potential risk of consuming raw oysters and exposure to salt or brackish water and take appropriate precautions. Particularly during the hottest months of the summer, bacteria are more likely to overgrow and contaminate raw shellfish. Given our current heat wave, this may be a time to exercise particular caution in what you consume."

The bacteria is more likely to grow during the hottest summer months, health officials said.

Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare. Connecticut reported five cases in 2020 and none in 2021 or 2022. The illness can cause severe bloodstream or wound infections, sometimes requiring intensive care or amputation. About one in five people who contract the infection die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those most at risk include older adults and people with weakened immune systems, officials said.

For more information on Vibrio vulnificus, visit the CDC’s website.

Here are tips to reduce the chance of getting this type of infection:

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked oysters or other shellfish.
• If you have a wound (including from a recent surgery, piercing, or tattoo), stay out of saltwater or brackish water, if possible. This includes wading at the beach.
• Cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if it could come into contact with saltwater, brackish water, marine life, or raw or undercooked seafood and its juices. This contact can happen during everyday activities, such as swimming, fishing, or walking on the beach.
• Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after they have contact with saltwater, brackish water, marine life, raw seafood, or its juices.