A public health alert has been issued for residents and visitors at Buzzards Bay on Cape Cod after a person with a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection was identified in the area. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health warned that Vibrio bacteria, which can cause severe and life-threatening infections, may pose a risk to others in nearby coastal waters.
The bacteria, including Vibrio vulnificus, can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, killing off flesh around an open wound. If left untreated, the infection can be fatal, with about 1 in 5 people dying from the illness. However, officials say there is no need for most people to worry as long as they take precautions.
Warmer waters are creating conditions that allow Vibrio bacteria to grow, particularly in areas like estuaries and small islands on Cape Cod. The bacteria thrive in salty and brackish waters along the Atlantic coast. Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, said: “There’s no need to discourage people from going to the beach. They just need to take precautions.”
To protect themselves against flesh-eating bacteria, people should cover open wounds with waterproof bandages or avoid wading, swimming, or fishing in coastal waters. They should also wash hands and surfaces thoroughly when handling raw seafood and cook seafood thoroughly if they are at increased risk for serious illness.
Symptoms of a Vibrio infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and blistering lesions. Wounds may become red, swollen, or discolored and have discharge. People with certain health conditions, such as liver disease or diabetes, are at highest risk of severe illness from the bacteria.
To reduce their risk, individuals should take these precautions:
– Cover open wounds
– Wash hands and surfaces after handling raw seafood
– Thoroughly cook seafood if necessary
– Wear clean clothes while in the water
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports common signs of a Vibrio infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering lesions.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/14/cape-cod-flesh-eating-bacteria-case-health-alert/85660551007