The other day, I was cleaning some cats at the fish cleaning station at Calaveras and I got to talking to another guy who was there, and he said that there's some sort of bacteria in the water down at the coast that has killed some people. Has anyone heard anything about this? Maybe it's old news and I'm just now hearing about it. He was telling me stories about people having cuts or open sores on their hands and dying shortly after having their hands in the water. I don't know where he got his information, but he said that when the weather gets cooler, the danger will pass.

This is from the CCA description of VIBRIO

Be alert, Vibrio � Vulnificus, the flesh-eating bacteria has recently infected a number of individuals along the mid coast. Vibrio can cause severe infection when open wounds are exposed to warm seawater; these infections may lead to skin breakdown and ulceration. There are some 18 � 20 cases a year along the Gulf Coast. It is naturally present in marine environments, but people are rarely infected. You can also get it from eating contaminated seafood, so experts say always cook seafood, especially oysters. Those with compromised immune systems and chronic liver disease are at high risk of being infected with vibrio. Doctors stress to get treatment early if you think there�s a problem with a sore. For more information, go to

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/vibrioparahaemolyticus_g.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/vibriovulnificus_g.htm

Thanks Drifter, I'll have to watch what I'm doing the next trip to the coast.