CDC Issues Warning on Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a national alert to healthcare professionals regarding infections of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare flesh-eating bacteria that has caused 13 deaths on the eastern seaboard this year. While most infections have been reported in the Gulf Coast, cases in the Eastern United States have increased eightfold since 1988, with the geographic range expanding by 30 miles annually. The CDC warns that infections are more likely during periods of above-average coastal sea surface temperatures and advises healthcare providers to consider the bacteria as a possible cause of infected wounds, particularly if patients were exposed to warm coastal waters. The bacteria is primarily transmitted through contact with saltwater or brackish water and can be fatal, especially for those with underlying health conditions.