A 'flesh-eating' germ is increasing this summer

Vibrio vulnificus cases rise with warmer waters and climate change boosting bacteria's spread.

: Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium known for causing flesh-eating infections, is increasing in U.S. coastal waters, partly due to climate change. Milder winters and hotter summers are making conditions ideal for its spread, with states like North Carolina and Florida reporting a significant number of cases. Health officials emphasize the need for caution, advising against exposure to brackish waters with open wounds and highlighting the importance of immediate medical care for infections. The bacteria's entry into the body often occurs through open cuts or consumption of raw shellfish, leading to potentially lethal infections.

A dangerous bacterium called Vibrio vulnificus is on the rise this summer in the U.S., especially in states along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard. This germ lives in warm seawater or brackish water and usually enters the body through open wounds or by consuming raw shellfish. Experts believe that milder winters and hotter summers, likely due to climate change, are helping the bacteria thrive more easily than in the past.

V. vulnificus can cause a life-threatening condition called necrotizing fasciitis, which rapidly destroys the skin and tissue around an infected wound. Although this tissue decay appears as if the flesh is being eaten, the bacteria are not literally feeding on human flesh. This dramatic and fast tissue death is what has led to the term “flesh-eating bacteria.”

Although only about 150–200 cases are reported annually to the CDC, the infection can kill 1 in 5 people, sometimes within just one or two days. A 2023 study showed that reported cases in the eastern U.S. rose eightfold between 1988 and 2018. Extreme weather events like heatwaves and hurricanes are known to trigger surges in these infections.

Florida recorded a record-high 82 cases last year, many following Hurricane Helene. So far in 2025, the state has reported 13 cases and 4 deaths. Louisiana has also seen a significant increase with 17 cases and 4 deaths — well above its average of 7 cases and 1 death per year over the past decade.

While still rare, these infections are expected to become more common. Health officials recommend avoiding salt or brackish water if you have an open wound or at least covering it with a waterproof bandage. If a wound becomes red, swollen, or infected after water exposure, seek immediate medical attention, as necrotizing fasciitis can progress quickly and be fatal if untreated.

Sources: Gizmodo, WRAL, CDC, Florida Department of Health, Louisiana Department of Health

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