Anxious beach enthusiasts might keep a vigilant eye out for jellyfish and sharks prowling in US waters this summer.
However, medical professionals and marine biologists advise that equal attention should be given to an invisible menace.
Perilous bacteria, capable of consuming the body internally, hide in the sand, sea, rivers, and lakes, seizing upon open wounds or entering the body through ingestion.
The consequences of ingesting these microorganisms from sea or lake water can vary from mild symptoms like nausea and diarrhea to severe outcomes such as deadly sepsis, coma, limb loss, and, in extreme cases, fatality.
Moreover, while previously confined to the Southeastern states and the Gulf of Mexico region, these bacteria have increasingly proliferated to water bodies across the nation in recent years.

Deadly bacteria capable of flesh deterioration are present at beaches and holiday destinations across the country. Illustrated above are multiple instances of locations where they’ve been identified.
For instance, in the past year, the deadly flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus bacteria has been detected at beaches all along the Eastern seaboard, off the coast of Long Island, in Connecticut, at beaches and shellfish establishments in Florida, and beyond.
This trend is attributed to the rise in global temperatures, which elevate water temperatures, creating a more favorable habitat for harmful bacteria such as Vibrio and Staphylococcus aureus. Consequently, these organisms can now survive for extended periods in regions they previously didn’t inhabit.
Below, DailyMail.com highlights the perilous organisms that could infect individuals during activities such as walking barefoot on pool decks or swimming in lakes without covering even the smallest cuts and scrapes.
THE FLESH-EATING BACTERIA INFILTRATING THE EAST COAST
V. vulnificus causes necrotizing fasciitis, essentially consuming tissue from the inside out.
Thriving in warm sea waters and the mixed fresh and saltwater environments where rivers meet oceans, individuals with open wounds can encounter the bacteria while swimming or handling raw seafood.
Vibriosis, the resulting infection, can also stem from consuming raw or undercooked shellfish. Though this route doesn’t lead to tissue deterioration, it can induce sepsis, a potentially fatal bloodstream infection.
Once inside a wound, the bacteria proliferate rapidly, directly damaging cells by producing enzymes and toxins that break down proteins, fats, and collagen, ultimately destroying skin and muscle tissue. Despite the body’s immune response, the bacteria persist, evading destruction by immune cells.
Triggering a systemic inflammatory response, the bacteria compound tissue damage, exacerbated by disrupted blood supply, resulting in tissue death beneath the skin.
Last summer, this deadly bacteria afflicted 11 individuals across three East Coast states, claiming five lives during a record-breaking heatwave, with seven cases in North Carolina, two in New York, and two in Connecticut.
Climate change directly influences the survival and infectivity of these bacteria, impacting unsuspecting water sports enthusiasts.
Approximately 80,000 vibriosis cases are diagnosed annually in the US, with around 52,000 linked to consuming contaminated seafood.
One such case involved Brent Norman from South Carolina, who, during a routine beach stroll, stepped on contaminated sea shells, leading to severe foot swelling. His heel exhibited blistering, redness, and swelling, prompting a doctor’s visit that confirmed V. vulnificus infection from water contact. Norman described the pain as akin to having a nail driven through his foot.


Days later, the health-conscious man experienced excruciating pain and observed significant swelling in his foot (pictured), rendering him unable to walk.
RESISTANT BACTERIA FOUND IN BEACHES AND BACKYARDS
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus or its antibiotic-resistant variant, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a condition that eats away at flesh.
Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, commonly triggers skin infections characterized by boils, blisters, and rashes. Typically residing on the skin and in nasal passages without causing harm, it becomes problematic when it enters an open wound, even a minor one, rapidly multiplying and infiltrating the tissue layer beneath the skin—comprising connective tissue encasing muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels.
Similar to Vibrio bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus produces enzymes to evade the body’s immune system. Additionally, it releases toxins triggering significant inflammation, bolstering its ability to consume tissue.

Shown is the leg of a UK mother of four who fell victim to MRSA. The infection from this flesh-eating bacteria necessitated the amputation of her leg.
MRSA can spread through person-to-person contact, making it prevalent in high-traffic locales like daycares, gyms, and public transportation. Moreover, it thrives in natural water bodies contaminated with human waste, such as beaches near sewage treatment facilities.
Additionally, the bacteria thrives in inadequately chlorinated pools and hot tubs. Individuals who ingest contaminated water or have wounds exposed to it are at risk of falling ill.
The bacteria S. aureus and MRSA thrive in warm freshwater environments, including lakes and rivers, and have been identified in the Great Lakes region, particularly around Lake Erie. They have also been discovered in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, notably in waters adjacent to urban areas.
Five beaches along the Washington state coast exhibited signs of MRSA contamination in the water and on the shoreline. Following this discovery in 2008, MRSA was detected on beaches of Catalina Island off the southern California coast and in Florida.
In 2017, a three-year-old boy in Texas developed an infection after spending time on a lake with his family. Initially presenting with red spots on his body, the toddler soon developed bleeding sores and a fever. Subsequently, he developed bloody lesions covering his body, some turning black. Although doctors treated him with antibiotics, the boy continued to experience pain during his recovery.
Staph infections are typically treated with antibiotics, requiring prompt administration to prevent the infection from worsening. However, bacteria can evolve rapidly, becoming resistant to various antibiotics. This emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a global health threat, as individuals with bacterial infections may lack effective treatment options due to the absence of newly developed antibiotics.
The incidence of diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria within this family is escalating worldwide. Approximately three decades ago, MRSA accounted for only two percent of all Staph infections. By 2003, it was responsible for 64 percent of infections.

Florida’s beaches, popular tourist attractions, have been discovered to harbor hazardous bacteria like vibrio and enterococcus.
However, when this bacteria enters the bloodstream—usually through a break in the skin—it can induce potentially lethal effects.
Since 2010, the annual reported cases of necrotizing fasciitis caused by GAS have been estimated to range between 700 to 1,200. Up to one in three individuals infected with GAS and suffering from necrotizing fasciitis perish.
Particles can linger on hard surfaces such as pool railings, countertops, snack bars along beach boardwalks, as well as buttons and joysticks on arcade games. These particles, known as fomites, can persist on surfaces during hot, sunny days for minutes to hours, waiting to adhere to unsuspecting vacationers with minor cuts or blisters on their skin.
FOUL WATERBORNE PATHOGEN POSES A THREAT IN POOLS
Enterococcus, while not causing necrotizing fasciitis, still poses significant health risks.
The bacteria commonly lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs), endocarditis (an infection in the lining of heart valves), and blood infections. It enters the body through contaminated water ingestion or contact with an open wound, potentially resulting in abscesses.
Found in various water bodies—rivers, lakes, oceans, swimming pools, and hot tubs—Enterococcus originates from the intestinal tracts of animals and humans without causing harm. Water contamination can occur when fecal matter from animals or humans enters the water, either through sewage systems or runoff from farms.
Enterococcus has been identified on numerous beaches, spanning from Palm Beach in Florida to Malibu in California and Oahu in Hawaii.
In addition to causing UTIs affecting the bladder, urethra, and kidneys, as well as endocarditis, Enterococcus can induce bloodstream infections (bacteremia), meningitis (leading to inflammation in the brain’s surrounding membranes), and gum infections.
Typically treated with antibiotics, infections caused by Enterococcus strains present challenges due to many strains evolving to resist medications, impeding effective treatment.