How climate change could be changing our everyday lives in South Florida
This collection of stories explores the practical effects of climate change on various parts of life in South Florida.
Researchers in Miami have identified that around half of the city's signature native trees, such as live oaks and sabal palms, face risk from increasing temperatures due to climate change. And frequent extreme weather events have prompted spikes in food prices on South Florida menus.
Read the stories below.
Kenneth Feeley, UM biology professor and Director of the Gifford Arboretum Department of Biology, measures a tree on campus. His research found that more than half of Miami's trees will be stressed by rising temperatures. By Ashley Miznazi
NO. 1: ABOUT HALF OF MIAMI'S NATIVE TREES AT RISK FROM RISING TEMPS. WHAT SHOULD WE PLANT NOW?
'Unfortunately many trees will be lost and that's a consequence of modern climate change' | Published December 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi
Chefs Val and Nando Chang at the counter of the original Itamae at the former St. Roch Market (now MIA Market), where they opened in 2018. Val Chang hosted the James Beard Foundation at her restaurant, Maty's, on Jan. 22 to discuss how climate change is disrupting the restaurant and farming industries. By MATIAS J. OCNER
NO. 2: RISING PRICES ON SOUTH FLORIDA MENUS? RISING COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE CONTRIBUTE
'Climate change has a direct impact on the supply chain that your favorite chefs depend on.' | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi
No children were playing on the dinosaur or pony ride at the Little River Pocket Mini Park Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2021, after the park was flooded with King Tide waters. This type of flooding could be much more common in the future as sea levels rise. By Emily Michot
NO. 3: WE ANSWER YOUR CLIMATE QUESTIONS: HOW MUCH SEA LEVEL RISE IS MIAMI EXPECTING?
Exactly how high will the tide rise? Scientists have a prediction. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris
A resident walks with her belongings through the flooded N 15th St in North Tampa, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, a day after Hurricane Milton crossed Florida's Gulf Coast. By Pedro Portal
NO. 4: FLORIDA MOST AT RISK OF 'SEVERE COASTAL FLOODING.' NEW RESEARCH SHOWS WHERE
'This is a level of exposure that's going to require a massive amount of planning and investment in coastal resilience.' | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
‘Flesh-eating' bacteria linked to first Florida deaths of 2025; one near Jacksonville
In Florida, 11 people have contracted Vibrio vulnificus, the so-called "flesh-eating" bacteria, and four of them have died from it so far in 2025, according to the Florida Department of Health. As of July 11, two cases have been reported in Northeast Florida, including one that led to the death of a St. Johns County resident. The other three fatalities in Florida have occurred in Bay, Broward and Hillsborough counties. Last year, there were a record 82 cases and 19 deaths, most of them after October, when large areas of the state were flooded by back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton. Vibrio vulnificus requires brackish saltwater to spread. Nationwide, vibriosis from Vibrio vulnificus and other Vibrio bacteria causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). What is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterial infection found in brackish seawater. People can contract it by exposing open cuts or wounds to the water or by eating raw or undercooked seafood. The FDOH did not specify the sources of the new cases. If the bacteria infect a person, they can cause the skin and soft tissue around a wound to quickly break down. Treatment may require limb amputation to stop the rapid flesh deterioration, and the infection can be fatal. Is there any 'flesh-eating' bacteria in Jacksonville? Locally, only one case has been identified in Duval County, but based on records by the Florida Health Department, no deaths have been reported in Jacksonville as of 2025. How many people have died from flesh-eating bacteria in Florida? Where? According to the FDOH, 4 people have died so far in 2025, as of Friday, July 11: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 St. Johns: 1 Between 2008 and 2025, 178 people in Florida have died from Vibrio vulnificus, according to FDOH records. How many cases of flesh-eating bacteria have been reported in Florida? Where? According to the FDOH, 11 cases have been reported so far in 2025, as of Friday, July 11: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Escambia County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 Lee County: 1 Manatee County: 1 St. Johns County: 2 Santa Rosa County: 1 Walton County: 1 Latest conditions: Is the water safe to swim or fish near Jacksonville, Florida? More conditions: How is the water at Jacksonville's beaches? Where are the flesh-eating bacteria in Florida? The Vibrio vulnificus bacteria can be found in raw or undercooked seafood, saltwater, and brackish water, which is created when fresh water from a river or lake meets the salty water of the sea. Flooding spreads brackish water into places it doesn't usually get to, and people working in floodwaters during and after storms are susceptible. Vibrio vulnificus, while rare, can be life-threatening. Some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Without treatment, death can occur in just a few days. People with compromised immune systems, liver disease, or open wounds are at higher risk for Vibrio vulnificus, the FDOH said. What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus or 'flesh-eating bacteria'? (WARNING: AN IMAGE BELOW MAY BE TOO GRAPHIC FOR SOME AUDIENCES) Common symptoms of Vibrio infection may include: Watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Bloodstream infection: fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. Wound infection, which may spread to the rest of the body: fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge (leaking fluids). If you experience these symptoms after being exposed to floodwaters, seek medical attention immediately. Healthcare professionals can treat the infection with antibiotics, but in extreme cases arms and legs may need to be amputated to remove dead or infected tissue. "Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection require intensive care or limb amputations," the CDC said on their site, "and about 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill." Do 'flesh-eating bacteria' actually eat flesh? No, but it does kill it. Vibrio vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis that kills human tissue, including the skin and outer layer surrounding muscles, nerves, fat, blood vessels and organs. Calling it 'flesh-eating bacteria' is inaccurate, − though a common reference − because (1) it kills tissue, but does not eat it; and (2) it cannot penetrate intact skin, but must enter through an existing break in the skin. Can you get the flesh-eating bacteria from another person? "There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of Vibrio vulnificus," the FDOH said. How can I avoid contracting Vibrio vulnificus? According to the FDOH and CDC: Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to warm salt or brackish water, especially flood water, or to raw shellfish harvested from such waters. Stay out of the water, or cover your wound with a waterproof bandage. Immediately wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after they have contact with saltwater, brackish water, raw seafood, or its juices. Seek immediate medical care if a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, or other signs of infection such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, fast or high heart rate, or confusion or disorientation. Do not eat raw oysters or other raw shellfish. Eat shellfish promptly after cooking and refrigerate leftovers. Cook them thoroughly: Boil shellfish in the shell until the shells open and then for 5 more minutes, or steam them until the shells open and then for 9 more minutes. Boil shucked oysters for at least 3 minutes or fry them in oil for at least 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Do not eat shellfish that does not open during cooking. Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood. Wear protective clothing (e.g., gloves) when handling raw shellfish. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Vibrio vulnificus: 1 dead in Northeast FL from flesh-eating bacteria
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Newsweek
Deadly Bacteria Linked to Seawater Spreading up East Coast of US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A potentially deadly bacterium, once mostly confined to the Gulf States, is now spreading north along the U.S. East Coast. Why It Matters Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium often labeled "flesh-eating" for its ability to cause severe and sometimes fatal tissue damage. Last year, cases of Vibrio vulnificus surged to record levels in Florida, with the Florida Department of Health reporting 82 cases and 19 deaths, marking a significant increase from previous years. State health officials linked this surge to flooding following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images What To Know The first fatalities this year in connection with Vibrio vulnificus were recently reported in Florida. And the bacteria is expanding. Aileen Marty, a professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University, told Newsweek over email: "We see cases of Vibrio vulnificus every year and cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer." "The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)," Marty said. However, she added: "In recent years, cases have expanded in the Eastern U.S., with instances reported as far north as Connecticut and New York, primarily attributed to rising coastal water temperatures and extreme weather events." Newsweek also spoke with Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, division of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo, who echoed this. "Although most common in the U.S. in the Gulf States," Vibrio vulnificus is "expanding Northward at an estimated range of 48 km/year due to increasing water temperatures," he said. "Severe infections have been described from NC, NY, and CT," Russo added. There were multiple documented cases and fatalities in these three states in 2023, as per reports from health officials and local news. Marty told Newsweek that "the treatment must be administered urgently." "Surgical intervention may be needed for extensive tissue infections—we sometimes have to amputate limbs to save lives. Rapid diagnostic strategies and awareness by HCW and the public can significantly reduce the risk of death, which can increase from roughly 33 percent to over 50 percent if treatment is delayed by just 24 hours," Marty said. What Is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in coastal waters, including salt and brackish water. There are around a dozen kinds of Vibrio. This causes the human illness, vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the U.S., of which 52,000 cases are the result of eating contaminated food. The most common species that cause human illness in the U.S. are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. The bacterium is "defined by warm, brackish, and coastal marine environments, with ongoing expansion into higher latitudes as global temperatures rise. This organism is most prevalent in regions with water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius [60 degrees Fahrenheit] and moderate-to-high salinity," Russo said. Marty also told Newsweek that "symptoms often appear within 12-24 hours and include gastrointestinal distress, fever, blistering skin lesions, and potentially life-threatening sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis after wound exposure." "Most severe cases occur in people with underlying health problems; mild or asymptomatic cases are likely underreported, as healthy individuals may experience few or no symptoms," Marty said. What People Are Saying Russo added: "Avoid eating raw seafood, especially oysters, and wash your hands after handling raw seafood. If you are at increased risk for severe infection as delineated above this is particularly important. If you believe you have developed an infection, please seek health care ASAP since V. vulnificus infection can progress in a fulminant fashion; time is of the essence." William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University, told Newsweek over email: "The precautions are straightforward. Avoid going into the coastal water if you have broken skin. If you sustain an injury in the water, wash it off promptly and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if the wound looks infected or the area becomes painful. Tell your provider of your water contact. Persons with chronic liver disease or who are immunocompromised should avoid eating raw oysters." What's Next Health officials continue to monitor the northward spread of Vibrio vulnificus. Current information is available from the CDC and local health departments.
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Newsweek
Flesh-Eating Virus Kills Four In Florida
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Four people have died in Florida due to infections from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium commonly known as "flesh-eating" for its ability to cause severe and sometimes fatal tissue damage. Newsweek has reached out to Florida's Department of Health via email for comment. Why It Matters Record cases of Vibrio vulnificus surged to record levels last year in Florida, with 82 cases and 19 deaths, Florida's health department reported at the time. The majority came after the hurricanes Helene and Milton. Flagellated Vibrio vulnificus bacterium revealed in the 26367x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Janice Haney Carr. Flagellated Vibrio vulnificus bacterium revealed in the 26367x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Janice Haney Carr. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images What To Know Fatalities have been reported across Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties, according to the Florida Department of Health, who reported the fatalities on July 11. This marks the first fatalities in connection with the bacterium this year. There have been a total of 11 confirmed infections across the state so far this year. The Florida Department of Health did not confirm the sources of these cases. What is Vibrio Vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in coastal waters, including salt and brackish water. There are around a dozen kinds of Vibrio, which cause the human illness, vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the U.S., of which 52,000 cases are the result of eating contaminated food. The most common species that cause human illness in the U.S. are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Buffalo, told Newsweek over email, "The range of Vibrio vulnificus is defined by warm, brackish, and coastal marine environments, with ongoing expansion into higher latitudes as global temperatures rise. This organism is most prevalent in regions with water temperatures above 20°C and moderate-to-high salinity." "Cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer," Aileen Marty, professor of Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, told Newsweek, "The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)." Marty told Newsweek, "Symptoms often appear within 12–24 hours and include gastrointestinal distress, fever, blistering skin lesions, and potentially life-threatening sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis after wound exposure. Most severe cases occur in people with underlying health problems; mild or asymptomatic cases are likely underreported, as healthy individuals may experience few or no symptoms." Russo also told Newsweek, "Entry of V. vulnificus into an open wound (pre-existing or acquired while in the water) is the most common means of acquisition. Eating raw seafood is another, especially raw oysters." "Although healthy individuals can develop infection, which can be severe, individuals with chronic liver disease, hemochromatosis, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, and iron overload states are at higher risk for developing severe infection, which can be fatal," Russo said. What People Are Saying Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Buffalo, told Newsweek over email, "Infections can occur with the combination of environmental exposure and host-factors... If you have a wound, cut, or disruption of your skin for whatever reason (e.g. recent surgery, tattoos et al) stay out of the water (seawater or brackish water) or cover the wound if exposure cannot be avoided. If you get a cut or injury while in the water, get out asap and wash the area," Russo said. Aileen Marty, professor of Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, told Newsweek over email, "The primary transmission routes are through the ingestion of raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, or exposure to brackish water through wounds. Individuals at highest risk include those with chronic liver disease (such as hepatitis B or C), diabetes, immune suppression, alcohol use disorder, malignancy, renal disease, or iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis." William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy, told Newsweek over email, "The precautions are straightforward. Avoid going into the coastal water if you have broken skin. If you sustain an injury in the water, wash it off promptly and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if the wound looks infected or the area becomes painful. Tell your provider of your water contact. Persons with chronic liver disease or who are immunocompromised should avoid eating raw oysters." What's Next Whether cases will rise this year remains to be seen.
