Is climate change causing a rise in flesh-eating bacteria?

When: April 13, 2019 Where: Ozana, Florida What happened: A fisherman contracted flesh-eating bacteria when a fish hook got caught in his hand. Source: People When: April 13, 2019 Where: Ozana, Florida What happened: A fisherman contracted flesh-eating bacteria when a fish hook got caught in his hand. Source: People Photo: GoFundMe.com Photo: GoFundMe.com Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Is climate change causing a rise in flesh-eating bacteria? 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

As a new study details how climate change could be blamed for a rise in flesh-eating bacteria cases. Experts say the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the perfect breeding grounds for the bacteria.

Most recently, a San Marcos man died after swimming in Turtle Lake near Palacios in June. He had contracted Vibrio vulnificus, the rare infection often linked to time spent in or near water.

The bacteria thrive in warm, brackish waters, including those on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Several other cases have been reported nationwide, including at least two other deaths linked to the infection.

In a study released in the Annals of Internal Medicine, experts discovered medical cases involving Vibrio vulnificus were on the rise in Delaware Bay, with credit given to rising ocean temperatures, according to Philly Mag.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the number of bacteria increases as water temperatures get warmer, specifically when they're more than 85 degrees, Florida Gulf Coast University Biological Sciences Chair Clifford Renk told WBBH-TV.

"If they're going into the beach and swimming in the water, they should take appropriate precautions," Renk said. "If they have open cuts or abrasions, they should wash them out, that type of thing. Other than that, they're probably fine."

See some of the most recent cases of flesh eating bacteria in the gallery above.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message