Climate change could lead to an increase in deadly bacterial infections along certain US coastal areas.
A recent study led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK and published in the journal Scientific Reports in March 2023, has found that the number of V. vulnificus bacterial infections has increased significantly along the East Coast of the US over the past 30 years. These deadly infections are caused by a flesh eating bacteria that thrive in warm, shallow coastal waters and can enter the body through cuts or insect bites during contact with seawater. The East Coast of the US is a global hotspot for these infections, with the number of cases increasing from 10 to 80 per year.
V. vulnificus infections are expanding further north along the US East Coast. In the late 1980s, cases were predominantly found in the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast, with few cases reported north of Georgia. However, today these infections have been detected as far north as Philadelphia, indicating a northward expansion of the bacteria's range. If current high emissions and warming scenarios continue, V. vulnificus infections could potentially be present in every Eastern US state by 2081-2100. The study also predicts that by the end of the 21st century, there could be an estimated 140-200 V. vulnificus infections reported each year. Although the number of V. vulnificus cases in the US is not high, the bacteria can be extremely deadly. In fact, someone infected with V. vulnificus has a one-in-five chance of dying. Moreover, it is currently the most expensive marine pathogen to treat in the US.
The impact of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity on the climate is becoming increasingly evident, and the consequences may be particularly severe for coastal regions. These areas form a crucial boundary between natural ecosystems and human populations, and they are also a significant source of human disease if the balance is upset.
Source: medicalexpress.com