Scientists have closely monitored the effects of climate change, and among them there is a hidden risk of an increase in the number of so-called carnivorous bacteria in the waters. along the US East Coast
The bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is commonly found in warm water with low salinity or low salt content. While the bacterium is common in subtropical regions, more northerly locations such as the Delaware Bay have seen an increase in Vibrio infections.
To understand the severity, it is important to note that this bacterium can cause life-threatening wound infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection require intensive care or limb amputation, and about one in five people with this type of infection die.sometimes he got sick after a day or two.
In this context, a study published in Scientific Reports highlights that the spread of this bacterium is likely linked to warming coastal waters, as An increase in temperature affects the salinity of the water, which favors the growth of bacteria.
There are currently about 100 cases of these infections in the US each year, and the Gulf Coast is considered a “global hotspot” for the bacteria. The study looked at cases from the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic coast of the United States over 30 years.
They believe that in the next 20 years or so, the infection will spread to about 11,000 km from the coast, and in the next 70 years they can be found more than 14,400 km from the coast.reaching the St. Lawrence River in Canada. This means that by 2100 between 90 and 210 million people will be at risk.
For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during 2022 Florida reported an increase in the incidence, with 65 cases of infection of this type, with 11 cases fatal. To understand what the increase was, it should be noted that for the whole of 2021, there were 34 cases and 10 deaths in the state from the same disease.
An infection can occur when a small tear in the skin is exposed to bacteria from sea water. The bacteria can cause the affected area to die, leaving the patient in need of emergency surgery to remove the tissue or risk amputation, the study says.
While infections are still rare, the death rate is high, at around 18 percent. Most deaths occur within 48 hours of exposure.
Source: La Opinion
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