Flesh-eating bacteria cases rising along U.S. coastlines

Health officials are reporting an increase in infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but potentially deadly bacterium once mostly confined to the Gulf Coast. Scientists say warming oceans and rising sea levels are enabling the pathogen to spread farther north, with new cases appearing along the U.S. East Coast, as reported by CNN.

The bacteria, found in warm brackish water and raw shellfish, can cause mild illness but sometimes lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection that destroys soft tissue. About one in five severe cases is fatal, according to the CDC.

Louisiana has seen more than double its usual number of infections this summer, with several deaths reported. East Coast states, including Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York, have also reported cases, reflecting what researchers say is an 800% increase in the region over the past three decades.

Officials advise avoiding coastal waters with open wounds, cleaning cuts thoroughly and ensuring shellfish is fully cooked. People with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness.