Massive amounts of seaweed are washing ashore along the beaches of South Florida which could be carrying flesh-eating pathogens.
Known as Sargassum, once the seaweed washes ashore, its thick, brown algae carpets beaches, releasing a pungent smell as it decays and entangles humans and animals who step into it.
For hotels and resorts, clearing the stuff off beaches can amount to a round-the-clock operation.
But the seaweed also interacts with plastic debris and Vibrio bacteria in the ocean creating what scientists call a ‘pathogen storm’ that can pose risks to beachgoers.
The biggest Vibrio bacteria threat is a condition called ‘leaky gut syndrome.’
A recent study conducted by Florida Atlantic University found Sargassum that ends up on beaches tends to harbor high levels of Vibrio bacteria.
Infection with vibriosis can cause a range of symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, chills, ear infections and wound infections.
The pathogens have a unique ability to attach to microplastics in the warm ocean water.
Researchers found the Vibrio bacteria possess specific genes, known as ‘zot’ genes, which produce toxins that can damage the intestines resulting in a condition similar to ‘leaky gut syndrome,’ where the bacteria can enter the gut, get stuck in the intestines, and cause infection.
If a fish consumes a piece of plastic contaminated with Vibrio bacteria, it can develop a leaky gut and release waste nutrients that stimulate the growth of Sargassum and other organisms in the surrounding environment.
There have already been cases of Vibrio-related fatalities linked to foodborne illnesses, such as after consuming raw oysters reports NBC Miami.
There are various Vibrio strains, but some can cause life-threatening illnesses when consumed through seafood or contact with open wounds.
The bacteria thrives in warm brackish seawater, making individuals with open wounds susceptible to exposure.
Researchers found that some Vibrio strains target both plant and animal hosts.
The worry is that as more people come into contact with the Sargassum seaweed and plastic marine debris increase during the summer months, the risks increase.
The flesh-eating Vibrio bacteria can colonize on plastic debris, forming a potential risk for humans.
A leafy brown seaweed festooned with what look like berries, the seaweed floats on the open ocean and — unlike other seaweeds — reproduces on the water’s surface, helped by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy.
Sargassum originates in a vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, which lies well off the southeast U.S. The Sargasso has no land boundaries; instead, four prevailing ocean currents form its boundaries.
The state saw an increase in Vibrio cases in 2022 following Hurricane Ian when warm standing water was able to allow the potentially deadly bacteria to grow.
Since 2011, there has also been a rapid expansion of Sargassum populations in the Sargasso Sea and other parts of the open ocean, leading to unprecedented seaweed accumulation events on beaches, including those in South Florida.
The Sargassum clusters serve as a habitat, food source, and breeding ground for various marine animals, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and more. As it accumulates, it makes a rather unpleasant experience for beachgoers.
Sargassum piles up on beaches, where it quickly decomposes under hot sun, releasing gases that smell like rotten eggs.
In recent years, Sargassum has carpeted beaches on some Caribbean islands and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in the spring and summer months.
Brief exposure isn’t enough to make people sick, but prolonged exposure — especially for those with respiratory issues — can be dangerous, scientists say.
It could be an issue for hotel workers and others who may spend hours removing the decomposing Sargassum from beaches.
Left to rot on the beach, Sargassum can turn into a problem. It can harm coastal marine ecosystems and also supports the growth of fecal bacteria.
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Lovely…we do not only get to have Trump, DeSantis, Gaetz , Rubio and Scott living and polluting our state, high insurance rates, hurricanes, pythons, high cost of living but now ALSO flesh eating bacteria? Seriously?…it seems Florida has really angered God
My only consolation is that it appears in the west coast, affecting the old retirees with money who bought in Ft Myers and Naples and normally vote Republican.
This seems to me a bigger threat to Florida and Tourism than some faraway migrants in Texas….maybe DeSantis should send the state national guard to solve this problem instead
Another reason to stay away from Florida
Why don’t they just box it up and send it to blue states, that will give the blue state citizens another reason to whine.
Seems to me that a bigger problem is the plastics that are being dumped into the sea by the tons each and ever hour of the day. Our water supply both fresh and salt is going to be contaminated as none of these plastics bio degrade. Instead of spending billions of a worthless ice age, then acid rain, then rising seas, then global warming, now global weather change, we need to start developing at minimum self degradable plastics or go back to glass bottles. Then start cleaning up the seas, shores first and grab all the floating stuff, then comb the rest out somehow, shrimp nets or what ever.