Rising instances of flesh-eating bacteria are being attributed to climate change, according to scientific reports
In recent months, the East Coast has seen a surge in cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria that can cause severe illness and even death. This bacterium is not just a threat to Gulf states, but is being found farther north as water temperatures rise.
A resident of Louisiana, Linard Lyons, recently fell victim to this bacterium. He spent the morning on his 19-foot boat in a fishing village on the Louisiana bayou, little knowing that the day would end with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease. Linard noticed a tiny scratch on his leg, which soon developed into a series of blackening sores spreading across his left leg. His doctor, suspecting a flesh-eating bacteria infection, sent him to the emergency room.
Vibrio vulnificus was found to be the cause of Linard's infection. This bacterium thrives in coastal waters during warmer months, especially in brackish waters. Melting glaciers lower ocean salinity, making conditions more favorable for Vibrio vulnificus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill, requiring intensive care or limb amputation, and about 1 in 5 people with this infection die. The CDC also reports that cases of Vibrio vulnificus have surged along the East Coast, with an 800% increase from 1988 to 2018.
Massachusetts has confirmed 71 cases of Vibrio vulnificus so far this year, with a 30% hospitalization rate and no deaths. However, an "extremely rare" case was identified from a resident exposed to coastal water near Martha's Vineyard.
The increase in Vibrio vulnificus cases is linked to climate change. Scientists believe that warming oceans and rising sea levels due to climate change are increasing the risk of Vibrio infections. People with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of contracting Vibrio vulnificus infection.
The Virginia Department of Health reports that cases of vibriosis across its residents have been increasing over the last ten years. Cases in North Carolina have increased 620% over the past 10 years, and New York's have more than tripled.
Linard Lyons, who survived his encounter with Vibrio vulnificus, encourages others to learn about the bacteria and hopes for increased awareness through additional signage. He urges anyone who develops symptoms to seek help immediately and get to the emergency room. A misdiagnosis can be a death sentence, he warns.
Dr. Rachel Noble, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, states that the increased prevalence of Vibrio vulnificus is being "repeated globally," indicating a "complexity of issues related to climate change." She warns that the public should be vigilant and take precautions when swimming or fishing in coastal waters, especially during warmer months.
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