Warming waters drive spread of flesh-eating bacteria, scientists warn

Researchers say Vibrio bacteria, which can cause necrotizing fasciitis, are appearing in northern waters as ocean temperatures rise. Cases remain relatively rare, but studies show a correlation between warmer water and higher infection rates. Most infections come from eating raw shellfish or exposing wounds to contaminated water, with about 80,000 cases annually in the U.S.

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Vibrio bacteria thrive in warm, brackish coastal waters, with Florida recording the highest infection rates nationwide. However, researchers have documented the pathogen's emergence in colder northern waters, including Maine, where historically low temperatures prevented survival. The bacteria's northward expansion tracks closely with rising ocean temperatures, and studies consistently show infection peaks during the warmest months of the year.

The CDC estimates roughly 80,000 annual vibriosis cases in the U.S., with about 52,000 linked to contaminated food consumption. While most infections resolve without serious complications, the Vibrio vulnificus strain can trigger necrotizing fasciitis, a severe tissue-destroying infection with a mortality rate of approximately 20 percent, sometimes killing within two days.