Flesh-eating bacteria cases are rising. Climate change is to blame, say scientists

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🗞️ Driving the news: U.S. health officials are reporting a sharp rise in cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but deadly "flesh-eating" bacteria, with infections spreading beyond the Gulf Coast and increasingly affecting states along the East Coast
• Experts say climate change is fueling the rise, as warming waters and shifting salinity levels create optimal conditions for the bacteria
• Louisiana alone has seen 17 hospitalizations and four deaths this summer — more than double its typical annual count

🔭 The context: Historically confined to warm, brackish waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Vibrio vulnificus infections are now being reported in northern states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia
• From 1988 to 2018, cases along the U.S. East Coast rose by 800%, according to CDC data
• People with open wounds or compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable, and infections can be fatal within days if not promptly treated

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The spread of Vibrio vulnificus offers a stark example of how climate change is altering pathogen behavior
• Warmer oceans, reduced salinity from melting glaciers, and longer warm seasons are enabling harmful bacteria to thrive in regions previously unaffected
• This trend signals wider public health risks as climate-driven diseases become more frequent, geographically widespread, and harder to predict

⏭️ What's next: Public health agencies are increasing outreach, urging caution in coastal waters and recommending against exposure with open wounds
• Researchers stress the importance of tracking climate-linked pathogens and improving early detection systems
• As sea temperatures continue to rise, experts warn that Vibrio vulnificus will not be the last microbial threat to emerge or expand due to climate change

💬 One quote: “This isn’t going to be the only pathogen that increases in the face of climate change … but one we can really learn from.” – Dr. Rachel Noble, marine microbiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

📈 One stat: North Carolina has seen a 620% increase in Vibrio vulnificus cases over the past 10 years, while New York’s cases have tripled

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