These are interesting organisms and range in scale from massive global epidemics -- cholera -- to infrequent but lethal infections -- Vibrio vulnificus.

Rita Colwell

Categorized in : Health News

It's associated with ingesting seafood that has not been properly cooked, or properly stored and then not properly cooked, and also by taking oysters or seafood from contaminated areas, which sometimes people do, especially in Florida or in the Gulf, where there's a sign that says' fishing prohibited' but the oysters grow big and fat. And they look good, so they eat them.

With warmer temps, the Vibrios proliferate, they become more numerous, and they outgrow their competitors which at lower temperatures would keep them in check.