The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a national health alert urging doctors to be vigilant for cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium. This warning follows a surge in severe and fatal V. vulnificus infections during July and August, mainly in states like Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, where at least five deaths have occurred. The bacterium thrives in coastal waters, particularly during warmer months, and can infect people through the consumption of raw seafood, swimming with open wounds, or exposure during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods.
As the climate crisis raises ocean temperatures and brings more heatwaves, V. vulnificus cases are increasingly reported along the East Coast, not just the Gulf Coast. The CDC estimates around 80,000 Vibrio-related illnesses annually in the US, but not all strains cause severe infections. Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Vibrio vulnificus can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, septicemia, septic shock, sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Of the 150 to 200 V. vulnificus cases reported to the CDC yearly, approximately 1 in 5 result in death, often within one or two days. Prompt treatment is crucial since about 50% of these infections no longer respond to antibiotics due to antimicrobial resistance. Preventative measures include thorough cooking of seafood, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish, and proper hand hygiene. Individuals with skin wounds are advised to stay out of the ocean or cover wounds with waterproof bandages. Those exposed to salt or brackish water should wash hands and cuts thoroughly with soap and water, and people involved in flood or hurricane cleanup should wear protective clothing to prevent cuts.
