Americans heading to beaches and coastal destinations for the Fourth of July weekend are being warned about a potentially deadly bacterium lurking in the water—and experts say the Trump administration may be less prepared than ever to track its spread.
Researchers this spring detected Vibrio vulnificus, often referred to as a “flesh-eating” bacterium, in several coastal locations on New York’s Long Island, prompting local officials in the Hamptons to issue public alerts. Florida has already recorded eight infections this year, while health authorities in Mississippi urged residents to take precautions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one in five people infected die, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours. Severe cases can trigger septic shock, destroy tissue, and require amputations.
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