Climate Change Linked to Rise in Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infections in North America

Climate change is causing oceans to warm, which is helping flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, to spread into new coastal areas. A study found that infections caused by the bacterium could double in the next 20 years along the eastern coast of the U.S. due to warmer sea surface temperatures. While V. vulnificus infections are still rare, the findings provide further evidence of how human health and the health of the planet are inextricably linked. The study also adds to a growing body of research on the public health risks that are associated with changes to ecosystems and the environment.