Cape Cod Swimmer Contracts Vibrio Vulnificus: What To Know About The Infection

FALMOUTH, MA — A swimmer on Cape Cod contracted a rare infection after a trip to the water this month, Barnstable County officials said.

On Aug. 8, a case of Vibrio vulnificus infection in "an older individual" who was swimming with an exposed wound at Old Silver Beach was confirmed.

There is no advisory or closure currently in effect for Old Silver Beach, officials said, noting that the disease is rare and the news is being shared only "to help residents and visitors make informed choices about their health and safety."

"Cape Cod’s beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community," said Scott McGann, Health Agent for the Town of Falmouth. "By taking a few simple precautions, residents and visitors, and particularly anyone who is vulnerable or immunocompromised, can continue to enjoy them safely."

Officials said that, although the waters in Cape Cod are monitored for bacteria, there is no way to measure for this infection. What they do know is that it is most often contracted by "at-risk" people swimming in seawater with an open wound.

Officials said Vibrio vulnificus is a "naturally occurring marine bacterium found in coastal and estuarine waters, especially when water temperatures are warm."

Most U.S. cases occur in southern states along the Gulf Coast, but a small number have been reported in the Northeast in recent years, particularly in the late summer and early fall when water temperatures rise.