Climate Change Linked to Rise in Flesh-Eating Infections in the US

Climate change is causing a rise in potentially fatal bacterial infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus bacteria found along the East Coast of the United States. The number of infections has risen from 10 to 80 per year over a 30-year period, with cases now spreading as far north as Philadelphia. By 2081-2100, infections may be present in every Eastern US state under medium-to-high future emissions and warming scenarios. The illness peaks in the summer and sees the bacteria spread rapidly and severely damage the person’s flesh, sometimes resulting in limb amputations for survivors.