The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a national health alert on September 1 concerning flesh-eating bacteria on the U.S. East Coast, following five fatalities from Vibrio vulnificus infections.
In the statement, the health agency urged healthcare professionals and the public to remain vigilant, particularly those at higher risk of V. vulnificus infection during coastal water activities, emphasizing the importance of swift treatment to reduce severe infection mortality.
Rare Flesh-Eating Bacteria Continue to Claim Lives on US East Coast
Infections from V. vulnificus bacteria have historically been concentrated in the Gulf Coast region, but the CDC has noted a significant eightfold increase in infections in the eastern United States from 1988 to 2018.
During this same period, the geographical range of infections has expanded northward by approximately 30 miles each year. This year's surge in infections coincided with above-average sea surface temperatures along the coastal areas.
The CDC receives reports of up to 200 V. vulnificus infections in the United States annually. Alarmingly, one-fifth of these cases result in fatalities, with some individuals succumbing to the illness within a mere one to two days of exhibiting symptoms.
Tragically, between July and August of this year, five people lost their lives due to V. vulnificus infections: one in Connecticut, one in New York, and three in North Carolina. These infections are caused by a lethal strain of bacteria that thrive in coastal waters.
The CDC's recent warning urges healthcare providers to consider V. vulnificus as a potential cause when treating infected wounds, particularly if patients have had exposure to warm coastal waters during the hotter months.
Additionally, the agency underscores the heightened risk associated with extreme weather events like coastal floods, hurricanes, and storm surges, which can push coastal waters into inland areas and increase the likelihood of Vibrio wound infections.
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Is Heading North
Studies show that V. vulnificus bacteria is heading north due to warming oceans brought by worsening climate change. Gabby Barbarite, a researcher from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute of Florida Atlantic University, said that the warmer the water is, the faster the flesh-eating bacteria reproduce.
Moreover, infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University noted that flesh-eating bacteria cases were concentrated almost exclusively to the Gulf of Mexico in the southern US in the past.
Manisha Juthani, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, emphasized that Vibrio vulnificus bacteria are consistently present in water. During a recent news conference, she explained that during the summer months, these bacteria tend to proliferate.
Consequently, individuals with open wounds should avoid entering the water, as numerous types of bacteria are present in aquatic environments.
Florida health officials recommend those at higher risk, such as immunocompromised individuals with conditions like chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems, should take extra precautions, including wearing appropriate footwear to prevent cuts and injuries from rocks and shells on the beach.
RELATED ARTICLE: Rare 'Flesh-Eating' Bacterial Infection Claims Lives: Northeast Region on High Alert as Vibrio vulnificus Strikes
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