Florida Teen, 17, Survives Vibrio Infection After Park Swim as Family Urges Water Monitoring
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 17
Florida Teen, 17, Survives Vibrio Infection After Park Swim as Family Urges Water Monitoring
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 17
Summary
Joziah Thompson, 17, is recovering at home after a week in the hospital and multiple surgeries for a Vibrio vulnificus infection contracted after swimming at Lion’s Park in Niceville.
A minor leg scrape worsened within 2 days into severe redness, pain and fever, prompting an emergency hospital visit where doctors removed infected tissue; he was discharged June 10 but remains on aggressive antibiotics.
His family is now pushing for local water-bacteria monitoring, warning that a larger teenager survived a case that could be even more dangerous for younger children.
Vibrio vulnificus causes only about 150 to 200 U.S. cases a year, but the bacteria is spreading along the eastern seaboard as warmer waters and extreme weather raise infection risks.