Deadly waterborne bacteria are surging because of climate change

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What to know about the bacteria that's expanding through U.S. beaches By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent All the talk about the dangers of warming temperatures isn’t just theoretical hand-wringing. In research published today, scientists document the slow increase in infections among Americans from Vibrio vulnificus, a deadly bacterium that lives in warm sea or brackish waters. They predict that cases will rise as the climate continues to get warmer. Vibrio vulnificus is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and flourishes in salty waters above 68°F. Using 30-year data on infections from the bacteria reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers found the following: Vibrio vulnificus is expanding from its historic Gulf coast range, with more northern states reporting infections as waters become warmer. Based on the latest data on how much the world’s water and air temperatures will rise, the scientists predict that by 2081, Vibrio vulnificus infections could reach every state along the U.S. east coast. To alert people to the growing threat, more monitoring systems are needed to track when concentrations of bacteria start to rise, similar to pollen and pollution alerts. READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read What To Know About New Research on Coffee and Heart Risks By JoNel Aleccia/AP New research links drinking more than one cup of coffee a day with a slight increase in a type of irregular heartbeat. Read More » The Next Presidential Election Will Be a Battle Over Pandemic Memory By Jacob Steere-Williams and Gavin Yamey How will the first three years of the pandemic be remembered? How will they be forgotten? Read More » How Bladder Cancer Differs in Women and Younger Adults By Markham Heid Figuring out the causes of age and sex disparities is an important area of bladder cancer research. Read More » What Causes Bloating—and What to Do About It By Markham Heid A look at what causes bloating, the most effective treatment options to relieve it, and the relationship between bloating and periods. Read More » Why You’re Grinding Your Teeth—And How to Stop By Haley Weiss Bruxism, or teeth-grinding, has increased during the pandemic because of stress, anxiety, and more. Read More »

AN EXPERT VOICE "In a few years, I would not be surprised if we see bivalent vaccines or a monoclonal antibody that works against [multiple respiratory viruses]. Older adults or young kids could get their winter vaccine." —Dr. John Williams, chief of infectious diseases at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

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