‘Carnivorous’ Bacteria Surge in Florida’s Floodwaters After Back-to-back Hurricanes

Hurricanes Helene and Milton left something terrible in their wake: bacteria known to cause “carnivorous” diseases. Florida health officials are warning residents to stay away from possible flooding Vibrio vulnificus, following a recent spike in incidents following the arrival of Hurricane Helene late last month.

There are several types of Vibrio bacteria that can cause human illness, including those that can cause cholera, but V. vulnificus especially scary. When these marine bacteria enter open wounds, they can cause a life-threatening condition called necrotizing fasciitis, which rapidly kills the skin and surrounding tissue (this destruction looks like half-eaten flesh, hence the misleading nickname). Although only about 150 to 200 cases V. vulnificus reported annually to the CDC, natural disasters such as hurricanes that put people in flood waters are known to cause major outbreaks.

Before Helene’s arrival in late September, Florida had been experiencing a mild Vibrio bacteria season. But after that, it grew exponentially, with 24 cases reported by the end of September, and a total of 38 new cases since Helene and Milton arrived. So far, there have been 74 reported cases and 13 deaths, up from 46 cases and 11 deaths last year.

The Florida Department of Health is “urging residents and visitors to avoid flooding and avoid exposure to Vibrio in anticipation of floods and heavy rain caused by storm Milton,” said the Department in a recent statement on the matter earlier this month.

However V. vulnificus still rare, about one in five die from these diseases. And evidence is mounting that it is becoming a common problem. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a public health warning that unusual heat waves on the east coast that may have caused a spike in cases this summer. Another study showed that reported cases in the eastern United States increased eightfold from 1988 to 2018 and that the number of cases has been increasing slightly northward each year. Another major reason for this increase is the effect climate change has had on the environment, including increasing the risk and severity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes.

People with weak immune systems are at greater risk of developing serious illnesses V. vulnificus. But anyone with open wounds or cuts should try to avoid getting into salt or brackish water. If you still decide to go swimming in the ocean with cuts, you should at least wear a waterproof bandage, and you should thoroughly wash any open cuts that come into contact with salt and brackish water with soap and running water. Bacteria can sometimes infect people through certain types of raw or undercooked foods, so the CDC recommends that people cook their oysters and other shellfish raw.