Tampa, Florida – Over the course of the year 2023, Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as the “flesh-eating bacteria,” has tragically claimed the lives of five individuals in Florida, according to the state’s health department. The infection has also led to the deaths of at least a dozen people across the United States.
The presence of Vibrio vulnificus has extended beyond Florida, reaching the Northeast. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York confirmed the bacteria’s involvement in the passing of a Long Island resident. In Connecticut, three cases of infection were reported in July, affecting individuals between the ages of 60 and 80. Unfortunately, two of these patients have since succumbed to the illness, as reported by the state’s Department of Public Health.
Vibrio vulnificus infections typically occur due to exposure to raw or undercooked seafood, saltwater, or brackish water. In Hillsborough County, located in Tampa, two fatalities were linked to the infection since January, with additional deaths reported in surrounding counties such as Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota. Florida has documented a total of 26 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection so far this year.
Despite its nickname as the “flesh-eating bacteria,” Vibrio vulnificus does not actually consume tissue but rather causes severe harm by entering the body through pre-existing skin breaches. In some cases, infections can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a condition where the tissue surrounding the infection site dies off. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 5 individuals infected with Vibrio vulnificus may require intensive care or even limb amputations, with a high fatality rate.
Researchers have pointed out the impact of climate change on the spread of Vibrio vulnificus, noting that the bacterium is moving northward due to warming ocean waters. Studies have shown an eightfold increase in infections between 1988 and 2018 in the U.S., correlating with rising coastal water temperatures where the bacteria thrives. This northward expansion along the East Coast is progressing at an average rate of about 30 miles per year, highlighting the concerning consequences of climate change on the proliferation of infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus.