After the Flood, the Flesh-Eating Bacteria

The vibrio threat was raised by bringing warm, salty, contaminated water into the neighborhoods. The perfect entry point for V. vulnificus would have been if Florida residents who were sheltered in place had to wade through flood water. A full reproductive cycle can be completed in about 20 minutes. Daines says that people are surprised by exponential replication. When you look down and see your wound is a little bit red and puffy, you might think it's just gotten a little infections and you're good to go. She says you should go to the hospital by that time.

V. vulnificus is able to escape our defensive systems. A biofilm is a slimy mixture of sugars, fats, andbacteria that the immune cells can't penetrate. necrotizing fasciitis is a condition in which skin cells rapidly degrade and die, and can be caused by the bacterium entering through the skin. It is able to get into our red blood cells and cause sepsis. The overall case fatality rate for infections is 35 percent, but it is closer to 50 percent in people with underlying conditions.

In high-income countries with advanced water treatment and vaccines, the incidence of V. cholerae is very low. V. vulnificus affects people all over the world. They are transmitted by eating raw or cooked seafood. There is no vaccine to protect against V. vulnificus and other vibrio species; they are only treated with antibiotics. A study found that close to 50 percent of the V. vulnificus were resistant to at least two antibiotics.

Daines said it was important to listen to public health authorities when they issued advisories on contaminated water. If you go to the beach, make sure to wear surf shoes in the water becausebacteria can get into them. You should see your doctor if you have been exposed to vibrio and feel unwell.

The vibrio threat is just one example of the ecological shifts that will happen over the course of this century. More frequent flooding and severe weather will likely lead to an increase in mold-related illnesses and infections as a result of antibiotic-resistantbacteria and unknown viruses being released into the environment.

Scientists can get a handle on where the outbreak is occurring by using the CDC's reporting systems. We will be responsible for avoiding these pathogens in the future. We need to get used to the fact that we are close tobacteria that can cause serious illness. Daines says that thebacteria are just trying to live and reproduce. We are sort of in their area.