Flesh-eating bacteria, the CDC's warning: "Up to 200 cases a year, 1 in 5 fatal."

The flesh-eating bacterium is an increasingly feared enemy as climate change intensifies . "Given rising water temperatures and associated extreme weather events (heat waves, floods, severe storms), people at greatest risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus," those with "previous medical conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, and immunocompromised conditions" that weaken the body's defenses, "should exercise caution when engaging in activities in coastal waters." This is the latest official statement released by the American CDC on the so-called flesh-eating bacterium , Vibrio vulnificus, which has returned to the spotlight for having already caused four deaths in Florida this year alone, out of a total of 11 cases .

Cases and symptoms of the disease

In 2023, in light of an increase in reports, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert to healthcare workers and the general public: within the large Vibrio family, bacteria that include "a dozen species pathogenic to humans" and cause " approximately 80,000 cases of illness each year in the United States ," Vibrio vulnificus, they explained, is known to cause potentially fatal infections. Approximately 150–200 Vibrio vulnificus infections are reported to the CDC each year, and approximately 1 in 5 affected people die, sometimes within 1–2 days of contracting the disease. While other Vibrio bacteria are primarily transmitted through food, the 'flesh-eating' disease "is transmitted primarily through contact with salt or brackish water from open wounds," although "occasionally (in about 10% of cases), the bacterium can infect those who consume raw or undercooked shellfish. Person-to-person transmission has not been reported," the CDC states. The disease has "a short incubation period," the agency warns, and is characterized by "a necrotizing infection of the skin and soft tissue, with or without hemorrhagic blisters. Many patients with Vibrio vulnificus infections require intensive care or surgical removal of the necrotic tissue."

How to take it

Vibrio vulnificus thrives "in warmer waters, especially during the summer months (May to October), and in low-salinity marine environments such as estuaries," the CDC describes. "In the United States," they report, "Vibrio vulnificus infections have been most commonly reported in the Gulf coastal states. However, Vibrio vulnificus infections in the eastern United States increased eightfold from 1988 to 2018, and the affected northern geographic area has expanded by 48 km per year," warn experts calling for a climate emergency.

In 2023, the US federal agency issued the alert on the flesh-eating bacteria precisely because that year, "between July and August," the CDC wrote, "the United States experienced above-average coastal sea surface temperatures and widespread heat waves . During the same period, several East Coast states, including Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, reported serious and fatal Vibrio vulnificus infections. Many were contracted after an open wound was exposed to coastal waters in those states," while " some were associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked fish, or had an unclear etiology ." The problem is that "extreme weather events, such as floods, hurricanes, and storm surges, can push coastal waters inland, exposing people exposed to these waters—particularly the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions—to a greater risk of Vibrio wound infections."

"This effect," the CDC recalls, "was observed in Florida after Hurricane Ian in 2022," when, according to local health authorities, 74 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection were recorded, resulting in 17 deaths. Hurricane Helene led to an even worse toll in 2024: 82 cases and 19 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health.

How to avoid flesh-eating bacteria

Vibrio vulnificus "is a bacterium naturally present in warm, brackish seawater," the department's website states. "It belongs to a group of vibrios called 'halophiles' because they require salt." And although the infections it causes "are rare," the authority insists that "water and wounds do not mix" and advises " not entering the water if you have recent cuts or abrasions ." People with immunosuppressed health, such as those with chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, should wear adequate foot protection to prevent cuts and injuries caused by stones and shells on the beach," experts advise.

These are the CDC's recommendations to the public: "If you get a cut while in the water, get out of the water immediately; if open wounds and cuts could come into contact with salt water, brackish water, or raw or undercooked seafood, cover them completely with a waterproof bandage; thoroughly wash open wounds and cuts with clean, running water and soap after they have come into contact with salt water, brackish water, or the oil of raw or undercooked seafood; cook raw oysters and other shellfish before consuming them; always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish, and seek immediate medical attention if your wounds become infected ."

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