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Flesh Eating Bacteria Are Devouring Limbs In Warming Waters Worldwide − Here’s How To Protect Yourself
State health officials said all nine Louisiana infections came from open wounds as warmer coastal waters drive a seasonal rise in cases.
Louisiana health officials announced on Thursday, August 6, that five people died from Vibrio this year, while Florida recorded two additional deaths, bringing the total to seven fatalities across both states.
Experts report Vibrio thrives in warm coastal waters, with climate change driving an expansion in the bacterium's range northward at nearly 31 miles annually, reaching New York's Long Island by 2026.
Infections occur through open wounds or contaminated shellfish, potentially causing sepsis; often nicknamed "flesh-eating bacteria," the pathogen kills one in five infected individuals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Health officials urge residents to cover open wounds with waterproof bandages before entering coastal waters and to cook seafood thoroughly, particularly those with liver disease or diabetes.
While Vibrio cases remain rare, annual reports indicate a rising trend as ocean temperatures increase, and the CDC warns the bacteria is present in higher numbers from May through October.