Three people have passed away within Connecticut in Connecticut and New York after contracting an uncommon flesh-eating bacteria which can be located in brackish and warm water or raw shellfish officials said Wednesday.

Two people from Connecticut have contracted Vibrio Vulnificus and passed away following swimming at two distinct places in Long Island Sound, according to Christopher Boyle, director of communications for the state's Department of Public Health.

Another person contracted the disease at the end of July after eating raw oysters in an outside establishment According to Department of Public Health. All three of them were between 60 to 80 years old, according to the department.

The bacterium has also been discovered in a person who passed away on Long Island, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. Officials are still looking into the death that occurred in Suffolk County to determine whether the bacteria was present within New York waters or elsewhere in the state, as per the release.

Vibrio Vulnificus belongs to the same family as bacteria that cause cholera.

A mild form of the Vibriosis is a bacterial infection thatcan causes skin abrasions blisters, abscesses, abscesses, and ulcers. It usually causes chills and fever, as well as diarrhea stomach pain, and even vomiting. In more severe cases, people can develop septicemia. This is more prevalent in people with medical conditions, such as cancer, liver disease diabetics, HIV and other illnesses which suppress the immune system.

Anybody can be affected by vibriosis however, those with an open wound like a cut or scratch, a tattoo or piercing and should not expose their the skin to warm seawater in areas with coastal climates or protect the area with an ointment-like bandage that is waterproof, the release notes.

Doctors recommend to seek medical attention as soon as you suffer from an infection of the skin following exposure to bacteria.

Vibrio vulnificus is responsible for around 80,000 cases of illness as well as 100 fatalities across the United States every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials are advising people to be careful Of bacteria

The officials in Connecticut as well as New York are advising people to be aware of their surroundings before eating raw oysters, or being exposed to brackish or salty waters.

"People should consider the potential risk of consuming raw oysters and exposure to salt or brackish water and take appropriate precautions," Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health stated in an announcement on the 28th of July. "Particularly during the hottest months of the summer, bacteria are more likely to overgrow and contaminate raw shellfish."

Governor Andrew Cuomo echoed these sentiments on Wednesday.

"While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous," Hochul stated. "As we investigate further, it is critical that all New Yorkers stay vigilant and take responsible precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, including protecting open wounds from seawater and for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish which may carry the bacteria."

Connecticut regularly checks oyster harvest areas throughout the state for levels of vibrio in the summer. In 2014 the state has also expanded its requirements to oyster harvesting.

In part, oyster farmers must shade oysters when they are on a vessel or in high-risk zones The oysters that are harvested must be put in an ice slurry that will reduce the temperature to below 50 degrees Fahrenheit within 3 hours after harvesting according to the State's Department of Agriculture.