Cases of Vibrio infections — including the potentially deadly Vibrio vulnificus — are on the rise across the Southeast, with North Carolina already reporting 59 illnesses and one death through July 31, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. That figure marks the second-highest midsummer total in five years.

In the Outer Banks, a man has been hospitalized for more than a week after a small leg cut developed into a severe Vibrio vulnificus infection. This species of bacteria, sometimes referred to as “flesh-eating,” can cause necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections that may lead to life-threatening complications without urgent medical care.

Health officials are sounding the alarm as warmer waters and heavy rainfall create ideal conditions for Vibrio bacteria to

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