Flat on his back in the Cape Coral Hospital fighting Vibrio is hardly how Terry Brennen wanted to spend his 79th birthday — or his whole October. At first, he waved her off. The next day, he was oddly warm. The third morning, they knew something was really wrong. He could hardly walk, she said. Related to cholera, the microbe occurs naturally in warm saltwater and can cause infection that destroys soft tissue, and, in serious cases, kill.
It can enter the body in several ways, says Vibrio researcher Anthony Ouellette, professor of biology and chemistry at Jacksonville University. Though Vietnam veteran Brennen is a three-workout-a-week, long-distance kayaker and biker, his Agent Orange exposure left him fully disabled, Carlene says.
His diabetes and multiple heart surgeries have weakened his immune system, while spurring him to stay in shape, she says. In healthy people, the bacteria can cause gastroenteritis that generally lasts about three days, according to the Department of Health in Florida. Without treatment, death can occur in a few days. Before this happened, the Brennens had never heard of Vibrio, she says. If you have open wounds, cuts, or scratches, stay out of flood water, standing water, sea water and brackish water, if possible.
Immediately clean and monitor wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and clean running water or bottled water after contact with flood water, standing water, sea water, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood and its juices.
Cover your wounds with a waterproof bandage if it could come in contact with flood water, standing water, sea water or brackish water. Seek immediate medical care if a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, or other signs of infection such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, fast or high heart rate, or confusion or disorientation.
