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- Issue #433: Flesh-Eating Bacteria Alert • Found Pig in Wesley Chapel • AI Diet Sends Man to Hospital • New Fees for Patient Questions
Issue #433: Flesh-Eating Bacteria Alert • Found Pig in Wesley Chapel • AI Diet Sends Man to Hospital • New Fees for Patient Questions
8/12/2025
Ted Grellner
12 Aug
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— Florida Health Officials Warn of Rise in Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases
OMG!
— Found Livestock: Pig, Wesley Chapel
— Man Hospitalized After Following Dangerous AI Diet Advice
— Patients Face Extra Fees for Asking Questions at Annual Checkups
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Florida Health Officials Warn of Rise in Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases
The Florida Department of Health reports 16 Vibrio vulnificus cases statewide this year, with five deaths in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, Polk, and St. Johns counties. Bay County, home to Panama City Beach, has seen two fatalities. The bacteria, naturally found in warm salt or brackish water, can also be contracted by eating raw shellfish such as oysters.
Symptoms include blisters, swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and in severe cases, flesh destruction at the infection site. Those with weakened immune systems face the highest risk.
Prevention tips: Avoid swimming with open wounds, wear protective footwear at the beach, and thoroughly cook shellfish. Health officials stress that while rare, infections can progress rapidly and be deadly if untreated.
“If you’ve got a normal immune system, you should do fine,” said Dr. Edward Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist.
Found Livestock: Pig, Wesley Chapel
Looking for your lost pig?
Pasco Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit found a male gray and black potbelly pig in the Pop Dr. area of Wesley Chapel on Aug. 11, around 10:30 a.m.
If you can provide proof of ownership, please call the Non-Emergency Line at 727-847-8102, option 7 and refer to case number 25026606..
Man Hospitalized After Following Dangerous
AI Diet Advice
A 60-year-old man was hospitalized after replacing table salt (sodium chloride) with sodium bromide, a toxic compound often used for industrial cleaning. The swap came after ChatGPT reportedly suggested bromide as an alternative.
After three months on the diet, the man developed paranoia, hallucinations, thirst, and coordination issues, leading doctors to place him on an involuntary psychiatric hold. He was diagnosed with bromism, a rare and dangerous condition from bromide overexposure, which also caused acne, fatigue, insomnia, and ataxia.
The case, published in Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, warns that AI can produce scientific inaccuracies without context, potentially endangering users who treat it as a medical authority.
While 35% of Americans already use AI for health guidance, experts urge caution, stressing that only trained professionals should provide medical treatment advice.
Patients Face Extra Fees for Asking Questions at Annual Checkups
When Whittney Darnell arrived for her annual physical, she spotted a sign warning that extra charges may apply if issues outside the exam were discussed. Surprised, she skipped some health concerns entirely.
Her doctor said the policy helps keep visits on schedule, but Kevin Brasler of Consumers’ Checkbook argues that listening to patients is a core duty of primary care. Charging extra for questions, he says, undermines trust and quality care.
Such “nickel-and-dime” fees are becoming more common, including charges for facility use, completing forms, or accessing medical records.
Experts recommend asking about fees before booking appointments and pushing back if they seem unreasonable.
For Darnell, the warning means weighing costs before speaking up: “If that ache is going to cost me $250… maybe it isn’t that bad — but what if it’s serious?”
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