The summer is in full swing, and unfortunately, that means it\u2019s prime \u201cflesh-eating\u201d bacteria season, too.<\/p>\n
Multiple states along the Gulf and Eastern coasts are reporting cases of severe Vibrio vulnificus infection. In recent weeks, several people have died as a result. Experts are warning people to practice prudent safety measures, such as avoiding the water if they have any open wounds.<\/p>\n
The \u2018flesh-eating\u2019 disease <\/p>\n
Several species of Vibrio bacteria can sicken humans, usually by causing gastrointestinal illness. V. vulnificus is more infamous for causing necrotizing fasciitis, though, a type of severe infection that rapidly kills off surrounding skin and tissue. This destruction looks like chewed-through flesh, hence the misnomer of \u201cflesh-eating\u201d disease.<\/p>\n
These infections, though rare, are highly lethal. Even with prompt antibiotic treatment, about one in five people sickened by V. vulnificus die from it on average, often within a day or two of noticeable symptoms.<\/p>\n
V. vulnificus is typically found in salt or brackish waters, and most necrotizing infections are caught when the bacteria enter an open wound while in these waters. People can also contract it by handling tainted raw or undercooked seafood. Ingesting such foods is more likely to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms, though people with weakened immune systems are still susceptible to severe infections.<\/p>\n
Where is it being reported? <\/p>\n
Numerous states have reported V. vulnificus or related infections within their borders this year.<\/p>\n
As of this week, Alabama has documented<\/a> 16 Vibrio infections, at least two of which involved<\/a> skin or soft tissue (likely V. vulnificus) and one death; Maryland has reported<\/a> 29 cases of the bacteria, though no deaths; and Mississippi has recorded<\/a> 3 cases. Louisiana has reported<\/a> 9 cases of V. vulnificus, with five deaths, and Florida (a common hotspot) has logged<\/a> 14 cases and two deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n Annually, about 150 to 200 cases of\u00a0V. vulnificus\u00a0are\u00a0reported<\/a> nationally to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there are signs it\u2019s becoming more of a problem. A\u00a02023 study\u00a0found\u00a0<\/a>that reported cases in the eastern United States increased eightfold from 1988 to 2018, for example. Extreme weather events like heat waves and hurricanes can also cause surges. Florida experienced<\/a> a record high of 82 cases in 2024, with many arriving in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. These weather events and warming waters in general are being fueled, at least in part, by climate change, making it likely that cases of V. vulnificus\u00a0and other\u00a0Vibrio infections will continue to increase<\/a> in the years to come.<\/p>\n Rare as this infection is, there are sensible steps you can take to further lower your risk of catching it.<\/p>\n