The predatory bacteria that enjoys the heat

The warming of the sea surface causes an increased spread of Vibrio bacteria - a dangerous and deadly bacteria for humans. What can be done to avoid infection?

By Maya Falah, Angle, Science and Environment News Agency

Did you get a new tattoo recently? You should take good care of it from infections, and above all - don't go into the sea with it. Two weeks ago, in the state of Texas in the USA, A man died that a predatory bacteria penetrated a new tattoo on his leg while bathing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The bacteria responsible for this case is of the type Vibrio (Vibrio). "This is a group of different bacteria, certain types of which can cause serious illness and even death in humans and animals," explains Dr. Hagai Levin, a public health specialist and head of the health and environment track at the Hebrew University of Hadassah's School of Public Health. "The most famous is Vibrio cholera, a major cause of an infectious disease that manifests itself in local and global outbreaks, and causes the death of close to for 150 thousand people a year".

Recently, the authorities in Yemen declared a state of emergency in the country, following a serious outbreak of cholera, which so far caused to the injury of thousands of people and the death of many of them. The background to the outbreak of the disease is of course the difficult conditions that prevail in the war-torn country.

"Outbreaks are closely related to the consumption of food or water that is unsafe for eating and drinking, to poor hygiene or sanitation conditions, and to living in crowded conditions." In Israel, Levin adds, the chance of cholera spreading is low, but it does exist: "Cholera spreads when there is damage to basic life infrastructure, so the ongoing civil war in Syria and possibly the sanitary situation in Gaza create conditions in which outbreaks of cholera may develop. However, the likelihood of expansion in Israel itself is low.'

"There are also other species of Vibrio that cause disease, such as Vibrio vulnificus (Vibrio Volnificus), which is mainly caused by the consumption of fish and various seafood that were not properly prepared, or from an open wound that becomes contaminated with contaminated seawater,' adds Levin. "As a result, sepsis can occur, and the mortality rates from this are high."

Vibrio vulnificus - the same species that is responsible for death in the case of the infected tattoo - attacks more than 80 people in the United States alone each year, and of these there are about 100 deaths, and there have also been cases of exposure to it in Israel, some of which ended in death. The action of Vibrio vulnificus can be very fast, and it can kill within 24 hours of infection. It is especially dangerous for those with chronic liver diseases or those with a weak immune system.

When frozen bacteria are released

It seems that the Vibrio is here to stay, and even breed, mainly because it thrives thanks to climate change. Indeed, in the last twenty years, the incidence of reported cases of infection with the bacterium has increased - among other things in Northern European countries, where it was not common in the past. Experts noticed that the reports, many of which were related to exposure to the bacteria while bathing or swimming in the sea, increased in frequency in years when heat waves occurred in the region.

in research published in the summer of 2016, researchers discovered that the increasing frequency of Vibrio infections around the world is no accident: as the ocean waters warm, so does the concentration of Vibrio bacteria in the water. To verify this connection, the researchers examined plankton samples from nine different areas of the North Sea and North Atlantic, taken every year between 2011-1958. In each sample they checked the concentration of Vibrio bacteria in the water during the measurement period. In the period examined - a period of time of 54 years - the surface of the oceans in this region warmed by approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the researchers did find that the concentration of Vibrio in the water increased during these years in a pattern that corresponds to the warming that occurred in each of the nine regions examined.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slAjIHvDrZU

"Climate change causes changes in the distribution of bacteria, and can lead to an increase in infectious diseases - including those caused by Vibrio", confirms Levin. "An outbreak of Vibrio vulnificus was also observed in Israel in 1996, andin a study conducted on the subject, it was found that the cause of it is most likely climate change.'

The fear is that as the effects of climate change worsen - so will the spread of Vibrio bacteria. According to the current study, which joins theStudies from previous years, it seems that this is indeed the forecast that is emerging. Unfortunately, this is not the only disease that experts fear will increase its spread due to climate change: it was only recently announced that the gradual warming of the earth causesThe thawing of soil layers which were frozen for hundreds and thousands of years, and in which there are various viruses and bacteria that are released into the air. The fear is that because a long time has passed since man was exposed to these dangers, our immune system does not know how to deal with them, and therefore the viruses and bacteria may cause a mass outbreak of diseases on the planet.

In August 2016, for example, An anthrax outbreak In Siberia, it caused the hospitalization of about 20 people and the death of one child, after the huge herd of reindeer in the area - the main source of livelihood for the local people - was affected by the bacteria that caused the death of about 2,300 reindeer. Apparently, outbreak of the disease It happened due to the discovery of the carcass of a moose that had died of the disease and had been buried under layers of frozen soil for decades. The frozen layers contributed to the bacteria remaining alive, and when the thawed soil and the corpse were exposed, the anthrax spread like wildfire through the elk herd. Now, it is feared that the warming will cause the ground to thaw and the exposure of thousands of moose corpses buried in the field and infected with the disease, as a result of a serious outbreak in the area in the 1920s. Experts estimate that if this happens, the bacterium could wipe out about a third of the largest reindeer herd in the world (consisting of about 700 reindeer) and spread to humans in the area as well.

So how do you not get infected?

And back to the threatening Vibrio: what can be done to avoid contracting the bacteria? "In the case of Vibrio cholera - it is especially important to maintain the rules of hygiene, and to consume only water and food that are safe to use," says Levin. "It's important to get to know you The World Health Organization's five rules for safe food: maintain cleanliness, separate raw and cooked food, cook thoroughly, keep the food at an adequate temperature, and use safe water and raw materials.'

"Vibrio vulnificus can be protected by being careful about Ministry of Health recommendations: buy fish only from authorized places (those with a business license); make sure that the fish displayed in the refrigerated display case are kept on ice chips; Do not buy fish directly from fish ponds or open stalls where adequate cooling conditions are not maintained; avoid direct contact with the live or fresh fish; Do not buy whole live or chilled fish. Be careful to buy only the fish that have been cleaned of fins, scales and gills; For patients with chronic diseases, and/or those with a weakened immune system and/or open wounds on the hands - it is recommended to avoid any contact with the fish. In addition, it is very important that the Ministry of Health works to implement these measures with the help of health promotion activities and appropriate policies.'

It is understood that if we do not try to reduce the impact of climate change it will be much more difficult to prevent cases of Outbreak of old and new diseases. "Parallel toGlobal and local measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions We must act vigorously to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change in Israel, including the various aspects of infectious diseases," adds Levin. "Among other things, investment in personnel training and appropriate infrastructures is required to respond to the identification, prevention and management of emergencies and disasters. The basic life infrastructures essential to maintaining public health must be maintained - safe water and food, sanitation, training to maintain hygiene - for example through the 'drop of milk' system - in all populations in Israel, and as much as we can influence - also in the areas adjacent to it."