"Follow Prevention Guidelines Such as Thoroughly Cooking Seafood"
Jeonbuk Province has urged residents to strictly follow prevention guidelines as marine activities increase during the summer and Vibrio sepsis bacteria and Vibrio parahaemolyticus have been detected in the province's marine environment.
According to Jeonbuk Province on June 25, Vibrio sepsis bacteria are halophilic bacteria that proliferate when seawater temperatures rise above 18 degrees Celsius, and they are commonly found in various marine environments such as seawater, mudflats, and seafood.
Cases typically begin appearing in May or June each year, with a concentration between August and September. Infection can occur by consuming raw or undercooked seafood or sashimi, or through wounds exposed to seawater during activities such as swimming in the ocean.
Symptoms of Vibrio sepsis infection include fever, chills, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In most cases, skin lesions such as rashes or blisters develop within 24 hours of symptom onset.
Lesions are especially concentrated in the lower limbs, and if symptoms worsen, they may progress to necrotic lesions. The fatality rate is about 50%, so those in high-risk groups need to exercise particular caution.
The first domestic case this year occurred in Chungnam Province on May 10, and as of now, there have been no reported cases in Jeonbuk Province.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of Vibrio sepsis cases nationwide decreased from 69 in 2023 to 49 in 2024, but the fatality rate increased to 42.8%. In Jeonbuk, there were three cases in 2023 and one case in 2024, with no fatalities reported.
To prevent Vibrio sepsis, the province emphasized the following prevention guidelines for residents: ▲ Always cook seafood thoroughly before eating ▲ Avoid contact with seawater if you have wounds ▲ Wear gloves when handling seafood ▲ Store seafood at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius and wash it under running tap water ▲ Always disinfect knives and cutting boards after use.
A provincial official stated, "We hope all residents will follow the prevention guidelines to have a safe summer," adding, "Those in high-risk groups?such as people with liver diseases like hepatitis or cirrhosis, alcoholics, and immunocompromised individuals?should be especially cautious due to the high fatality rate."
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