School District of Lee County announces Milton make-up daysSunken boats and the smell of fuel fill Laishley Park Marina after Milton
School District of Lee County announces Milton make-up days The School District of Lee County has announced their make-up dates due to days missed from Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Sunken boats and the smell of fuel fill Laishley Park Marina after Milton The refreshing smell of the sea at Laishley Park Marina has been replaced by the thick stench of fuel.
BONITA SPRINGS Local band Roxx Revolt says farewell to SWFL After six years of rocking Southwest Florida, local band Roxx Revolt is setting its’ sights on the nation’s musical mecca: Nashville, Tenn.
Matlacha Milton’s impact on businesses in Matlacha Before Hurricane Milton even made landfall, a violent tornado ripped through the community of Matlacha.
NEAR CLEWISTON Gang violence concerns in Hendry County after fatal shooting of 16-year-old A 16-year-old girl is dead, the apparent victim of alleged gang activity in Hendry County she was not involved in.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County Sheriff to hold annual Halloween event in wake of Milton The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is continuing with its annual “Cops & Goblins” Halloween event in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
IMMOKALEE Collier County woman arrested for shooting another woman in the face A woman has been arrested in Collier County after shooting another woman in the face, killing her.
FGCU women’s golf team eyes three straight tournament titles The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s golf program is having its best season so far.
IMMOKALEE WINK News Players of the Week: Immokalee QB Chris Germinal and WR Gilbert Charles After teaming up for 3 TDs in the win over Lely, Immokalee QB Chris Germinal and WR Gilbert Charles are the WINK News Players of the Week.
Red Tide concerns in Southwest Florida All eyes are on an area in the gulf for a suspected red tide bloom.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda resident attempting to salvage boat after Milton A Punta Gorda homeowner said he saw damage from Hurricane Milton to his home and his boat.
Spike in cases of vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after hurricanes We’re tracking a spike of cases in vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The Beach Bar breaks ground on Fort Myers Beach The Beach Bar, destroyed Sept. 28, 2022, by Hurricane Ian, broke ground Oct. 17 off I Street on Fort Myers Beach, just south of Lani Kai Island Resort.
Punta Gorda Elks Lodge reduced to rubble after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused $750,000 worth of damage to the second largest Elks Lodge in the U.S.
Properly removing debris from Charlotte County streets following Hurricane Milton Hurricane Milton created havoc throughout Florida, impacting several areas, including Charlotte County.
School District of Lee County announces Milton make-up days The School District of Lee County has announced their make-up dates due to days missed from Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Sunken boats and the smell of fuel fill Laishley Park Marina after Milton The refreshing smell of the sea at Laishley Park Marina has been replaced by the thick stench of fuel.
BONITA SPRINGS Local band Roxx Revolt says farewell to SWFL After six years of rocking Southwest Florida, local band Roxx Revolt is setting its’ sights on the nation’s musical mecca: Nashville, Tenn.
Matlacha Milton’s impact on businesses in Matlacha Before Hurricane Milton even made landfall, a violent tornado ripped through the community of Matlacha.
NEAR CLEWISTON Gang violence concerns in Hendry County after fatal shooting of 16-year-old A 16-year-old girl is dead, the apparent victim of alleged gang activity in Hendry County she was not involved in.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County Sheriff to hold annual Halloween event in wake of Milton The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is continuing with its annual “Cops & Goblins” Halloween event in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
IMMOKALEE Collier County woman arrested for shooting another woman in the face A woman has been arrested in Collier County after shooting another woman in the face, killing her.
FGCU women’s golf team eyes three straight tournament titles The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s golf program is having its best season so far.
IMMOKALEE WINK News Players of the Week: Immokalee QB Chris Germinal and WR Gilbert Charles After teaming up for 3 TDs in the win over Lely, Immokalee QB Chris Germinal and WR Gilbert Charles are the WINK News Players of the Week.
Red Tide concerns in Southwest Florida All eyes are on an area in the gulf for a suspected red tide bloom.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda resident attempting to salvage boat after Milton A Punta Gorda homeowner said he saw damage from Hurricane Milton to his home and his boat.
Spike in cases of vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after hurricanes We’re tracking a spike of cases in vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The Beach Bar breaks ground on Fort Myers Beach The Beach Bar, destroyed Sept. 28, 2022, by Hurricane Ian, broke ground Oct. 17 off I Street on Fort Myers Beach, just south of Lani Kai Island Resort.
Punta Gorda Elks Lodge reduced to rubble after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused $750,000 worth of damage to the second largest Elks Lodge in the U.S.
Properly removing debris from Charlotte County streets following Hurricane Milton Hurricane Milton created havoc throughout Florida, impacting several areas, including Charlotte County.
We’re tracking a spike of cases of vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, after hurricanes Helene and Milton. This flesh-eating bacteria thrives in warm, brackish water and is transferred to people through open wounds. The Department of Health website shows nine cases this year between Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties. It breaks down to 4 in Charlotte, with one death reported, 4 in Lee, and one in Collier. The state flagged all but the Collier case as being associated with the hurricanes. This isn’t your garden variety bacteria. Vibrio lives up to the phrase “flesh-eating” because when it gets into your system, it destroys tissue by cutting off oxygen. It can lead to sepsis and death. Health experts warned people to stay out of flood water, but now we’re learning the danger is even more widespread. Back-to-back hurricanes carried storm surge and flood waters, bringing the potentially deadly flesh-eating bacteria into people’s homes and yards. A handful of Southwest Floridians were infected in the days and weeks following Helene and Milton. “They may ignore anything that’s happened to them, physically, a cut or a wound, and then when they just get sicker and sicker, present to the emergency room,” said Dr. Mary Beth Saunders, medical director of infection prevention at Lee Health. By the time they get there, the infection of the flesh-eating bacteria is likely ravaging their body. “Some people need to go to surgery right away, and they need to actually take away that tissue that’s not healthy anymore, and it may involve several surgeries,” Saunders said. It turns out the danger goes deeper than the water. Anything soaked with brackish stormwater can host the flesh-eating vibrio vunificus, making handling muck and still-wet items risky. Saunders has seen it firsthand. “With Ian, we saw numerous cases, and generally, those were folks that were cleaning up brush and debris, and that they got cuts or scrapes from the brush or the debris, so once you have the water intrusion, the muck on everything, wherever it’s on those surfaces, the bacteria can live,” Saunders said. The takeaway is to take time to cover exposed areas when you touch anything wet from the storm and carefully clean any cuts or sores. Dr. Saunders said warning signs to look out for are any wound that has rapid redness, swelling or tenderness and expands out from the sore, especially if you see any blisters or get flu-like symptoms. Any of those call for quick medical attention.