Health authorities in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany have reported three cases of wound infections with the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus so far this summer. The patients had typical symptoms of vibrio wound infections, and these developed after bathing in the Baltic Sea. All of them had underlying chronic illnesses. One patient was a 57 year old diabetic, one was a 72 year old man with coronary heart disease and chronic leg oedema, and one was a 76 year old man with a chronic skin ulcer. All were treated with antibiotics and are recovering. Two patients" wound samples tested positive for V. vulnificus. Since the end of July 2006, water samples taken from 9 out of 10 bathing places along the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Baltic Sea coast have consistently tested positive for V. vulnificus (testing is done every 14 days at these locations). V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus have also been detected, but so far, there have been no reports of human infections with these species. (extrait)