Two people have died from Vibrio vulnificus infection in North Jeolla Province this month, prompting health authorities to urge caution.
Three patients have been diagnosed with the infection this month, and two of them died while receiving treatment, the North Jeolla Province government said on the 11th. Both had eaten raw fish or shellfish and had underlying conditions including liver disease, the province said.
Vibrio vulnificus infection is an acute form of sepsis caused by the Vibrio vulnificus bacterium and is designated a Class 3 notifiable infectious disease in South Korea. Infection can occur from eating contaminated seafood raw or undercooked, or when an open wound comes into contact with contaminated seawater. Cases are concentrated between August and October each year, when seawater temperatures rise, and people in high-risk groups with underlying illnesses face a greater risk of infection and death. The fatality rate is around 50%.
Symptoms include acute fever, chills, a drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Within 24 hours of onset, skin lesions such as rashes, swelling and hemorrhagic blisters appear on the legs. Anyone with these symptoms should go to a hospital immediately for treatment.
People with underlying conditions such as chronic liver disease, diabetes or alcohol dependence are considered high-risk and should avoid contact with seawater if they have open wounds and eat fish and shellfish only after cooking.
South Korea records infections and deaths in the double digits every year. Last year, 68 people were infected and 26 died.
The provincial government said seafood consumption is expected to rise over the coming Chuseok holiday and called for particular care in food storage and preparation. To prevent infection, authorities advise washing hands before and after handling fish and shellfish, avoiding seawater contact when the skin is cut, washing and disinfecting cooking utensils used to prepare seafood, and storing fish and shellfish at low temperatures.
"People in high-risk groups who develop suspected symptoms such as fever or blisters should visit a medical institution for examination without delay," said Lee Myung-ok, head of the province's infectious disease control division.
