Bacteria that can cause flesh-eating disease love warm water, and the water is getting warmer due to climate change
'With warmer water temperatures moving further north, it allows Vibrios to survive, during summer months in particular, at higher latitudes than it had previously,' said Hamer.
And the water is warmer. Midsummer ocean temperatures were about 2.75 degrees warmer in the period from 2021 to 2025 than they were 20 years ago, according to data from an
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'A couple degrees difference will allow greater growth' of the bacteria, said Hamer. 'And if it continues to rise, we're going to see even more over the next five to 10 years.'
The oceans absorb more than 90 percent of the extra heat created by climate change, leading to sea level rise as water molecules expand and glaciers melt; supplying
extra energy for hurricanes, which are fueled by heat at the surface of the ocean; and providing a more hospitable place for certain kinds of bacteria.
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Scientists has been watching as Vibrio vulnificus infections have climbed northward as the planet warms. Between 1988 and 2018, wound infections from the bacteria increased eight-fold (from 10 to 80 cases per year) in the eastern United States, and the northern limit of reported cases moved north by roughly 30 miles each year, according to a
By the middle of this century, between 2041 and 2060, the authors of the study projected that Vibrio vulnificus would be occurring as far north as Boston, and found that in a scenario where the world does not sufficiently rein in greenhouse gas emissions, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, it could extend into southern Maine toward the end of the century.
The good news is, as of now, this kind of infection is very rare in Massachusetts. The state has recorded seven cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the last several years, of which just four were likely exposed in Massachusetts. But Department of Public Health officials want to
One in five people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, sometimes within a day or two of getting sick,
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'There are increasing numbers of people who are immunocompromised by disease or by medication, and people in those categories are at higher risk of both contracting the disease and developing severe complications of the disease,' said
Madoff warned that people with underlying medical conditions in particular should be cautious about swimming in the ocean if they have scrapes or cuts and eating raw or undercooked seafood, which is another way people can contract the bacteria.
'If I had a small scratch and I had bad liver disease, I would just stay out of the water,' Madoff said.
But he's also not warning people away. 'It's a good way of staying cool. We don't think people need to avoid the beach,' he said.
Sabrina Shankman can be reached at
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Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Bacteria that can cause flesh-eating disease love warm water, and the water is getting warmer due to climate change
That's where climate change comes in, making New England waters friendlier for the potentially deadly bacteria. 'With warmer water temperatures moving further north, it allows Vibrios to survive, during summer months in particular, at higher latitudes than it had previously,' said Hamer. And the water is warmer. Midsummer ocean temperatures were about 2.75 degrees warmer in the period from 2021 to 2025 than they were 20 years ago, according to data from an Advertisement 'A couple degrees difference will allow greater growth' of the bacteria, said Hamer. 'And if it continues to rise, we're going to see even more over the next five to 10 years.' The oceans absorb more than 90 percent of the extra heat created by climate change, leading to sea level rise as water molecules expand and glaciers melt; supplying extra energy for hurricanes, which are fueled by heat at the surface of the ocean; and providing a more hospitable place for certain kinds of bacteria. Advertisement Scientists has been watching as Vibrio vulnificus infections have climbed northward as the planet warms. Between 1988 and 2018, wound infections from the bacteria increased eight-fold (from 10 to 80 cases per year) in the eastern United States, and the northern limit of reported cases moved north by roughly 30 miles each year, according to a By the middle of this century, between 2041 and 2060, the authors of the study projected that Vibrio vulnificus would be occurring as far north as Boston, and found that in a scenario where the world does not sufficiently rein in greenhouse gas emissions, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, it could extend into southern Maine toward the end of the century. The good news is, as of now, this kind of infection is very rare in Massachusetts. The state has recorded seven cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the last several years, of which just four were likely exposed in Massachusetts. But Department of Public Health officials want to One in five people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, sometimes within a day or two of getting sick, Advertisement 'There are increasing numbers of people who are immunocompromised by disease or by medication, and people in those categories are at higher risk of both contracting the disease and developing severe complications of the disease,' said Madoff warned that people with underlying medical conditions in particular should be cautious about swimming in the ocean if they have scrapes or cuts and eating raw or undercooked seafood, which is another way people can contract the bacteria. 'If I had a small scratch and I had bad liver disease, I would just stay out of the water,' Madoff said. But he's also not warning people away. 'It's a good way of staying cool. We don't think people need to avoid the beach,' he said. Sabrina Shankman can be reached at
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Flesh-eating bacteria case in Cape Cod prompts public health alert: What to know
A warning from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health may have some beachgoers exercising a little more caution as they try to escape the August heat. Residents and visitors at Buzzards Bay, a community on the south end of Cape Cod, are on alert after officials identified a person with a rare, flesh-eating bacterial infection in the area. Officials said the bacteria, known as Vibrio, could pose a risk to others in nearby coastal waters. The Vibrio species, which includes Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Some can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, which kills off flesh around an open wound. Many people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill. But it's not the first time this bug has made its way to the Massachusetts bay: In a news release, the department of health said there have been seven cases of the illness over the last seven years among residents of the commonwealth, including four who were exposed in Massachusetts. The Vibrio bacteria and the infection it causes are usually more common in warmer waters, including in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Texas and Florida, Dr. Larry Madoff told USA TODAY. But it's increasingly being seen northeastern states along the Atlantic coast, he added, such as Massachusetts and New York. "It's associated with warmer waters, and our waters are getting warmer," said Madoff, adding that the area where it's been found, Buzzards Bay, is an area with estuaries, small islands and warmer water on the western area of Cape Cod. The Vibrio bacteria also thrive in salty and brackish waters along the Atlantic coast, said Madoff, medical director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. Above-average water temperatures are creating the conditions that allow the bacteria to grow, especially in the spring, summer and early autumn. Still, he said, there's no need for most people to worry, as long as they take certain precautions. "I would not discourage people from going to the beach," he said. "The beach is good and people need to cool off." What precautions should people take against flesh-eating bacteria? There are several species of Vibrio bacteria that can cause people to fall seriously ill. So how can people protect themselves? The bacteria is opportunistic, and it can enter the body through open wounds, health officials said. Foods like contaminated shellfish can also carry the bacteria. People with health conditions including liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or who are on immunosuppressants are at highest risk of severe illness from the bacteria following exposure. Some precautions include: What are some symptoms and signs of flesh-eating bacterial illness? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common signs of a Vibrio infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering lesions. Wounds that become infected may be red, swollen or discolored and may have a discharge.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cape Cod Swimmer Infected with Flesh-Eating Bacteria
Massachusetts health officials say the case is rare and the beaches will remain open NEED TO KNOW A swimmer in Cape Cod was infected with flesh-eating bacteria due to an open wound Massachusetts health officials say the case is rare and the beaches will remain open Residents are encouraged to educate themselves on the rare bacteria, as most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer Health officials are warning Massachusetts residents and visitors after a swimmer contracted flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus while on Cape Cod. On Friday, August 8, local and state officials confirmed a single case in an 'older individual' who was swimming with an exposed wound at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. The Falmouth Health Department said there is currently no advisory or closure of the beach. 'Cape Cod's beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community,' Scott McGann, health agent for the Town of Falmouth, said in a statement. 'By taking a few simple precautions, residents and visitors, and particularly anyone who is vulnerable or immunocompromised, can continue to enjoy them safely.' On August 13, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that there have been seven confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus among residents in the last several years, including four that were likely exposed in the state. This case comes shortly after health officials warned residents in Gulf Coast states about flesh-eating bacteria following the death of eight people from infections. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Vibrio is the source of about 80,000 illnesses in the United States per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vibrio naturally live in coastal waters, according to the CDC. Most people are sickened by vibrio after eating raw or undercooked shellfish — particularly oysters — because the bacteria will 'concentrate' inside the shellfish, the CDC explains. However, they naturally live in brackish water and cause an infection if a swimmer has an open wound — or a recent tattoo or piercing. Most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer. Symptoms of a Vibrio infection vary, depending on how the bacteria is contracted. For bloodstream infections, the CDC says someone may experience 'fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.' However, for a wound infection, a fever will accompany swelling and discharge around the wound. And for those who ingest the bacteria, it can mimic food poisoning, with 'watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever.' The CDC says a Vibrio infection is treatable with antibiotics, but in more dire cases, 'doctors may need to amputate a patient's legs or arms to remove dead or infected tissue.' The flesh-eating bacteria is fatal for 1 in 5 people, according to the CDC, which warns that some people die within a day or two of exhibiting symptoms. Read the original article on People
