George Billiris, a lifelong boat captain and third-generation sponge fisherman, considers himself fortunate to be alive after contracting Vibrio vulnificus — a bacteria often referred to as “flesh-eating” — which thrives in warm coastal waters, including along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
In July 2019, Billiris was wading in the water with his grandson when the bacteria entered his body through a small cut on his lower leg. “I started to get chills, feverish, my leg was swelling, burning,” Billiris said. What began as “just a little tiny scab” quickly became life-threatening.
At the hospital, doctors marked his leg with a pen to monitor the rapid spread of the infection. After three weeks of intensive treatment, the infection subsided, and doctors were able to save his leg from amputation.
Bacteria Thriving in Warmer Waters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that Vibrio vulnificus can be deadly, with one in five infected individuals dying from the infection due to its rapid spread. The risk intensifies during hurricane season, when conditions can favor bacterial growth.
According to Dr. Valerie Harwood, a microbiologist at the University of South Florida, rising ocean temperatures driven by climate change are expanding the bacteria’s reach. Warmer waters also contribute to stronger and more frequent storms, creating more opportunities for infection. “With warming waters, we are seeing cases further north,” Harwood explained.
Recent years have seen cases appear in states previously unaffected, including the Carolinas, Connecticut, and New York. This year alone, Louisiana has reported 17 cases, Florida 16, and North Carolina seven. Florida has had the highest number of fatalities so far, with five deaths reported.
