An October 4, 2025 case of Vibrio from raw oysters goes unreported to the public by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I was hospitalized for six days after my blood pressure dropped below half the normal value. This flesh-eating disease more commonly enters through open wounds when swimming, but shellfish provide an alternative infection path (Figure 1, "Information About Vibrio Bacteria",click here).
The Illness
My blood pressure normally ranges between 106 and 129, but after I passed out to crash headfirst into the floor from Vibrio, my measured systolic pressure was 52 while I was conscious and certainly lower when I passed out a second time while trying to stand. After arriving at the hospital, I was treated as a Level 1 Emergency to raise my fluids as a result of extreme, uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea. Admittedly, my white blood cell count was temporarily low at the time due to other medications, where low white cell counts made me more susceptible to illness. United Health Care paid in excess of $129,000 for my hospital stay.
Vibrio was diagnosed at the hospital, and by law, the South Carolina Department of Health (DPH) was contacted immediately by the hospital laboratory, and DPH contacted me immediately in the hospital. We spoke at length, and I identified raw oysters at a Delaware restaurant as my only possible disease pathway when I visited Delaware on vacation from South Carolina. DPH forwarded applicable information to the Department of Agriculture.
Other Probable Vibrio Effects
Twelve days after hospitalization, I was readmitted to the hospital with internal bleeding. A new ulcer in my esophagus was aggravated to bleed into my stomach. I vomited two to three ounces of blood several different times. Since Vibrio causes ulcers, Vibrio was the probable cause of this ulcer, which was a hole eaten into the wall of my esophagus. I lost 25 pounds in a month to change my weight to 145 pounds at six feet tall, illness has not yet stopped after nearly two months, and I have not regained any weight since.
I was reluctant to publicly provide personal health details, but I guess if I can write about other people, I should write about myself as well. To this end, I have provided Table 1 and Figure 2, which is highly personal.
My Test Results
From available data, Vibrio vulnificus was the cause of my illness, coupled with Enteropathogenic (EPEC) E. coli. Specifically, PCR tests (polymerase chain reaction) were performed that determined both positive Vibrio vulnificus and negative Vibrio cholerae ("Diagnostic techniques for rapid detection of Vibrio species", click here).
Figure 1. Vibrio Disease ('Clinical Overview of Vibriosis')
(Image by U.S. Center for Disease Control) Details DMCA
Table 1. My Vibrio and E. coli test results (Adapted from Hospital medical test results.).
(Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA
Figure 2. Existing cancer and new ulcer believed to be caused by flesh-eating Vibrio.
(Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA
My Follow up
Since there have been no public statements from the Department of Agriculture, I contacted the restaurant directly.
Initial Text Message[Fenwick Island, Delaware Hospitalization]
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