Cases of Vibrio in the U.S. in 2022
CDC WARNS ABOUT DEADLY BACTERIA — After multiple reports of Americans infected by rare flesh-eating bacteria this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted providers to look out for the infection and public health officials to warn the public about the risks.
Five things to know:
1. The bacteria, Vibrio, thrives in warm coastal waters, including salt and brackish waters. One species, Vibrio vulnificus, infects 150 to 200 people each year in the U.S. and kills 1 in 5 people, usually within a day or two.
2. The infection, called vibriosis, is mainly transmitted when someone with an open wound comes into contact with water containing the bacteria, but occasionally, people can get infected by eating undercooked or raw seafood like oysters.
3. This year, infections, including fatal ones, have been reported in states along the eastern seaboard, including Connecticut, New York and North Carolina.
4. Extreme climate and rising water temperatures can play a role in increasing risk for the infection. For example, Hurricane Ian pushed coastal water into inland Florida in 2022, resulting in a notable rise in vibriosis cases.
5. Between 1988 and 2018, infections from Vibrio vulnificus have increased eightfold, the CDC said, with the geographic range of infections creeping further into northern waters each year
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