Rising Seawater Temperatures Increase Infection Risk
Proactive Prevention and Management Needed
Jeonnam Province has urged the public to exercise particular caution as the risk of Vibrio sepsis infection is increasing with seawater temperatures gradually rising ahead of the full onset of summer.
According to Jeonnam Province on May 22, after the Vibrio sepsis bacterium was detected in seawater in Seocheon County, Chungnam Province in April, a 77-year-old woman residing in Taean County was confirmed as the nation’s first Vibrio sepsis patient on May 10.
Vibrio sepsis can be contracted between May and October, when the bacterium proliferates actively due to higher seawater temperatures, by eating raw or undercooked seafood, or when wounds on the skin come into contact with contaminated seawater.
After a short incubation period of about one to two days, symptoms such as fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea appear. In most cases, within 24 hours of symptom onset, swelling, rashes, and blisters begin to develop on the lower limbs, which can gradually progress to necrotic lesions.
In particular, high-risk groups such as those with liver disease or immunocompromised individuals require extra caution, as infection can progress to sepsis, with a fatality rate of around 50%.
To prevent infection, seafood should be thoroughly cooked, individuals with skin wounds should avoid contact with seawater, and seafood should be heated to at least 85 degrees Celsius before consumption.
In response, Jeonnam Province is operating an intensive management period from June to September, which includes customized in-home health management services for high-risk groups. The Jeonnam Institute of Health and Environment is conducting Vibrio sepsis epidemic prediction surveys twice a month, investigating contamination of seawater and tidal flats, and promptly providing the results to cities and counties.
Namseok Na, head of the Infectious Disease Control Division at Jeonnam Province, emphasized, "Because the fatality rate is high among high-risk groups, please exercise special caution when consuming fish or seafood, and seek prompt medical attention at a healthcare facility if any suspicious symptoms occur after eating seafood."
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