PERDIDO BAY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health (FDEP) says 13 people in the state have now contracted vibrio vulnificus.
Three people in Northwest Florida have contracted the infection this year. Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties have all had one case. As the number of cases rise, local health and environmental experts are saying not enough is being done to notify the public.
Sava Varazo has been an environmental scientist for almost 40 years. He’s worked locally with Escambia County and the FDEP. But now he says he’s frustrated by the lack of warnings and signage that would raise awareness for vibrio.
“A dozen years ago, they used to put them out all over the place when their was a high risk of some harmful scenario. They do it with tidal alerts about swimming conditions. They do it with shark alerts,” Varazo said. “Why don’t they do it for health alerts, like bacteria? It was common knowledge back in the day. You’d see those signs in Bayou Chico, Bayou Texar, Navy Pointe, Pensacola Beach. They’re just not doing it anymore. I think the health department needs to be more responsible and live up to their name — health department.”
Cases of vibrio are rare, but a dozen or so are reported across the state each year. The cases are commonly contracted in warm bays, bayous and brackish waters. People who have a weakened immune system, open cuts or wounds, or those who eat raw shellfish are at higher risk.
“There are certain groups that are at a higher risk of infection. If you have an immunocompromised condition that lowers the immune response, anyone on a medication or a disease that lowers the immune response,” said University of West Florida Associate Professor of Medicine Norman Beatty. “Another group that is important to talk about is those living with liver diseases, livercerosis and other liver conditions. We know that vibrio and those with liver diseases go hand in hand.”
WEAR News reached out the health department in Escambia County, asking if there are any active cases and how they investigate each case of vibrio. No one was available to speak on camera — but they did send a definition of vibrio and a link of how to get more information.
“Our state officials are doing their best to put those bulletins out and this is the time of year when we should be doing this,” Beatty said. “I think we are doing our best to get awareness to the community. That’s why I’m here talking about this today.”
“It’s just not happening like it used to,” Varazo said. “I don’t know if it’s politically driven or a money issue. The public deserves more accountability from government agencies that are delegated with the responsibility to inform the public.”
If you’d like to learn more about vibrio, here’s a link to the FDEP’s website.
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