Florida continues to unleash biological warfare hazards onto the United States, intent on infecting the nation. First, the first mosquito-borne malaria cases in years, then the emergence in of the Biblical curse leprosy, a string of brain-eating amoeba attacks, and now, a rare flesh-eating bacteria. And how could we forget the periodic alligators attacks.
Five Floridians have died of Vibrio vulnificus, and three like Florida transients from New York have also succumbed to the flesh-eating bacteria. There have been a total of 26 confirmed cases of the bacteria in Florida alone this year, with a few dozen cases found around the country. The bacteria thrive in warm ocean waters, and with coastal ocean temperatures off the coast of Florida topping 100ºF, the “peach tree” dish is ripe for explosive growth.