About Vibrio Infection

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause cholera. It lives in brackish saltwater and causes gastrointestinal illness in humans.

V. parahaemolyticus naturally inhabits coastal waters in the United States and Canada and is present in higher concentrations during summer.
 

On this page:
Symptoms
Duration of Illness
Complications
Transmission 
Fact Sheet

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• abdominal cramping
• nausea
• vomiting
• fever and chills

Usually these symptoms begin within 24 hours of exposure.

Duration of Illness

• Illness is usually self-limited and lasts approximately 3 days.

Complications

Severe disease is rare and occurs more commonly in persons with weakened immune systems.

V. parahaemolyticus can also cause an infection of the skin when an open wound is exposed to warm seawater.

Transmission

Most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.

Fact Sheet

• Vibrio Infection Fact Sheet
  MDH fact sheet that answers some common questions about Vibrio Infection.
  
   
• CDC: Vibrio parahaemolyticus
  CDC information that answers some common questions about Vibrio Infection.

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