Flesh eating bacteria causes multiple deaths in Florida, New York, Connecticut. Check name, symptoms

Vibrio vulnificus, commonly referred to as the “flesh-eating bacteria”, has claimed the lives of five people in Florida this year, as reported by the state’s health department. Across the US, the infection has resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen people in the year 2023. This bacteria has also claimed lives in the Northeast. New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed its presence in a Long Island resident who passed away. Connecticut experienced three infections in July, involving individuals aged between 60 and 80. Regrettably, two of these patients have since lost their lives, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.

Occurrences of Vibrio vulnificus infection, found in raw or undercooked seafood, saltwater, and brackish water, were responsible for two fatalities since January in Hillsborough County, located in Tampa, according to the Florida Department of Health. Moreover, a person each from surrounding Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota counties succumbed to the same cause. The state of Florida has recorded a total of 26 cases of this infection thus far in the year.

This bacterial menace flourishes in warm waters, particularly in areas where river and ocean waters converge, and can infiltrate the body through cuts, scrapes, wounds, or even consumption of raw seafood.

“Flesh-Eating” Bacteria

Referring to Vibrio vulnificus as the “flesh-eating bacteria” is technically inaccurate since the bacteria does not consume tissue despite causing fatal harm. It requires a pre-existing breach in the skin to enter the body and cannot permeate intact skin. If the bacteria enters through a cut or wound, it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a condition in which the tissue surrounding the infection site perishes. The term “vulnificus” derives from Latin, signifying “to wound.”

In some instances, Vibrio vulnificus infections can manifest as life-threatening wound infections, resulting in necrosis around an open wound, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those infected might necessitate intensive care or limb amputations, with about 1 in 5 individuals succumbing to the infection, sometimes within just a day or two of falling ill.

Climate Change Impact on “Flesh-Eating” Bacteria

Due to the effects of climate change and warming ocean waters, Vibrio vulnificus is progressively moving northward, a trend unveiled by numerous studies. The acceleration in bacterial reproduction is attributed to higher water temperatures. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce emphasized this correlation.Studies underscore the escalation of infections by eightfold between 1988 and 2018 in the U.S. This surge aligns with the warming of coastal waters, where the bacteria proliferates, as discussed in a March publication in the Nature Portfolio journal. As a consequence, the bacteria’s geographic reach is expanding northward along the East Coast, progressing at a pace of approximately 30 miles annually.

FAQs

Q1. What is the name of Flesh eating bacteria?
A1. The name of “Flesh eating bacteria” is Vibrio vulnificus. However, referring to Vibrio vulnificus as the “flesh-eating bacteria” is technically inaccurate since the bacteria does not consume tissue despite causing fatal harm.

Q2. What is the impact of climate change on “Flesh-Eating” Bacteria?
A2. Due to the effects of climate change and warming ocean waters, Vibrio vulnificus is progressively moving northward, a trend unveiled by numerous studies. The acceleration in bacterial reproduction is attributed to higher water temperatures.