Killing about 20% of its victims, the man-eating bacteria that live in coastal waters spread well beyond their original Gulf habitat, making their way up the East Coast at a rate of about 30 miles per year.
Although still rare, infection from Vibrio vulnificus Between 1988 and 2018, bacteria increased eight-fold as climate change warmed the brackish coastal waters where the bacteria live. A paper published on Thursday was found.
Bacterial infections that erode flesh and sometimes required amputation to stop it occurred mostly in brackish waters along coasts and coves from Texas to Florida. It appears about 300 meters north.
“Vibrio has been talked about as a barometer of climate change because it is so sensitive to environmental conditions. He holds a PhD in Science from the University of Anglia.
How will climate change affect you?: Subscribe to our weekly Climate Point newsletter
read more: The latest climate change news from USA TODAY
Here’s what you need to know about Vibrio vulnificus.
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
Vibrio vulnificus is one of several forms of Vibrio bacteria. The best known is Vibrio cholerae, a water-borne disease that causes an acute diarrheal illness that is fatal within hours if left untreated. Although rare in the United States, it is common in areas without modern sewage treatment.
This carnivorous species, called Vibrio vulnificus, lives in warm brackish waters, especially in bays, estuaries, and areas where rivers and streams meet the sea. It can also occur after heavy rains that cause floods and storm surges.
Even worse news:Cat poop may be killing California sea otters
Impact of climate change: What are the impacts of climate change? How do they disrupt our daily lives and contribute to disasters?
Is Vibrio vulnificus spreading?
As climate change warms the oceans, the bacteria that cause these infections are moving up the East Coast, spreading at a rate of about 30 miles per year, according to the paper. Published Thursday in Nature Portfolio.
“Previously, cases were concentrated almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico in the southern United States,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University.
Researchers found that cases in the United States increased eight-fold between 1988 and 2018. Between 1988 and 2016, more than 1,100 people were infected with this bacterium and 159 died.
In the words of the paper, the case also experienced “significant geographic expansion.” In the late 1980s, infections were rare in areas north of Georgia. By 2018, it was regularly reported as far north as Philadelphia.
“It’s not moving north, it’s spreading. We’re still seeing cases in Texas, but we’re also seeing cases in Pennsylvania, where we didn’t see them 20 years ago,” the paper said. Lead author Elizabeth Archer, a graduate researcher at the University of East Anglia, said:
Bacteria prefer warm water above 64.4 degrees
If water temperatures continue to rise and bacteria reach New York State in the coming decades, cases could double again.
How can I protect myself?
The open ocean is too salty for Bikubrio vulnificus. Bikubrio vulnificus prefers brackish waters with slightly less salinity found in bays, inlets and estuaries.
The takeaway from the study is not to avoid the beach, but to be careful, said the paper’s authors, a professor emeritus of biology at the University of North Carolina who has studied bacteria for decades. Jim Oliver, one of them, said:
Young and healthy people are at lower risk, he said, while older people, especially men, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
“I don’t want to scare you to go to the beach. Just be careful,” he said.
“This type of wound contamination is usually sustained by people who work in seawater, such as fishermen,” Schaffner said. Older people with weakened immune systems are at particular risk. “
What should I do if I think I have been exposed to bacteria?
The CDC suggests that if a wound or cut comes into contact with salt water or raw seafood, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Most importantly, if you have a cut or wound that you think is infected and have recently spent time in the ocean or in a brackish bay or estuary, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Symptoms of an infected wound include swelling, pain, redness, warmth, fever, discoloration, and discharge at the site.
“Infections can progress incredibly quickly. I worked with a woman whose husband had an infection and saw what appeared to be a spider bite to necrotizing fasciitis within four hours. became,” he said.
“It’s very important not to overdo it,” Schaffner said. “If you’ve been injured and you think the wound is infected, treat it as soon as possible. That’s important.”
Other things to watch out for: Raw seafood
The same bacteria can infect oysters, mussels, clams and scallops.Except for oysters, they are usually cooked before being eaten, so generally Only oysters matter In the food-derived form of Vibrio vulnificus.
infection is It causes watery diarrhea, often with stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. It can also enter the bloodstream and cause fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
of The CDC estimates that approximately 80,000 people contract vibriosis and 100 die each year in the United States. Most of these diseases occur from May to October when water temperatures are warmer.
“Vulnificus is the deadliest foodborne disease in the world,” said Oliver.
