Louisiana has issued a warning for beachgoers to take preventative measures against Vibrio vulnificus. This bacterium, known for causing flesh-eating infections, has seen a rise in cases this year.
State health officials report that nine individuals have contracted the infection, leading to five fatalities after exposure to warm seawater, the natural habitat of the bacteria.
In comparison, over the past decade, Louisiana typically recorded an average of seven infections and one death annually.
Experts attribute the increase in cases to warming waters, which have facilitated the spread of the bacteria to northern regions.