In early September, an individual who lives on the waterfront just off the Miles River in Tunis Mills nicked himself on his forearm while retrieving a crab pot from his dock. Within one day, a serious infection developed which was diagnosed as Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus). The man was hospitalized at the Baltimore Shock Trauma Center and underwent at least four surgeries in an attempt to save his arm, which had open wounds from his wrist to elbow.

The area around the Tunis Mills Bridge is a popular swimming site. Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy would like to warn our community about this incident.

Otherwise known as “flesh-eating bacteria,” there are several species of Vibrio. Vibrio vulnificus causes severe skin ulcers, gangrene, and deadly blood infections in people who expose cuts to warm saltwater containing the bacteria, as well as diarrheal illnesses in people who eat shellfish infected with Vibrio.

Below are important guidelines to follow when in contact with the water in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and tributaries.

The most important rule is not to swim within 48 hours of a rainfall. 

You can lower your risk of getting Bay-related infections by remembering:
·         DO NOT SWIM after rainfall of 1/2 inch or more.
·         DO NOT SWIM in cloudy, murky water.
·         DO NOT SWIM if you have an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, open cuts, scratches or skin lesions, or a compromised immune system.
·         DO NOT SWIM in water areas where there is a fish kill or any dead animals or known algae bloom.
·         Try not to swallow water while swimming.
·         Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or seawater.
·         If you develop a skin infection, tell your medical provider if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water.
·         Wear protective gloves, clothes, and shoes that can protect you from cuts and scrapes when in brackish or salt water.

Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and celebration of the waterways that comprise the Choptank River, Eastern Bay, Miles River, and Wye River watersheds. For more information, visit midshoreriverkeeper.org, email info@midshoreriverkeeper.org, or phone 443.385.0511.