by Abigail Richards

A Deadly Encounter in the Severn River

In late June this year, 88 year old Ted McClanahan fell from his bike and into the Severn River near his alma mater, the Naval Academy, in Annapolis. With the help of a local midshipman, he made it out of the water with just a scraped up leg. He was then taken to Urgent Care where his wounds were cleaned and bandaged by doctors. But, little did McClanahan and his loved ones know, it would be his last couple of days as his condition worsened rapidly. The retired Navy captain died on the first of July from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, a strain of flesh eating bacteria, after coming into contact with the Severn River’s water. According to the National Library of Medicine, this fatal strain of bacteria notoriously resides in saltwater or brackish water and rapidly multiplies along with warm weather and excess algae growth. (Haftel & Sharman, 2023) As climate change is worsening, the warmer weather patterns rapidly increase, and so does Vibrio vulnificus.

“We want the public to know because we had no idea how dangerous the water conditions were,” Ted's daughter in law, Nancy McClanahan, says. “If we had knowledge of the risk- or even that there was any kind of risk in the river- then maybe Ted could have been saved.” 

Potentially fatal, Vibro vulnificus migrates throughout East Coast waters

Vibrio vulnificus: Hidden and Fatal 

Just this Summer alone, six have died from this exact strain of bacteria all along the Eastern Coast. Officials say one person in New York, two people in Connecticut, and three in North Carolina had their lives claimed in July and August this year from vibrio vulnificus. (Kekatos 2023). Yet, there has been little to no action taken by Public Health officials to raise awareness, or prevent any outcomes of the potential danger of these waters. Gerald Winegrad Democrat for the House of Representatives and Senate for over a decade has researched the deaths caused by Vibrio vulnificus for two years. 

“The problem with this specific Vibrio bacteria is that it thrives in warm weather and feeds off algae.” Winegrad continues, “The constant runoff is filled with nutrients from coastal agriculture filled with phosphorus, nitrogen and fertilizers. It makes the algae growth excessive which feeds Vibrio vulnificus fuel.” 

Winegrad has published multiple columns on those who have fallen victim to the bacteria, and shares that their loved ones wish for it to be more publicized. But, different bodies of water are owned on different levels, so owners cant be legally forced to post signs or raise awareness. The government and private land owners don't take such action because they don't want to scare tourists away, or look bad as a whole. 

“There definitely should be more warning signs in Federal territories- especially during the Summer months.” says Winegrad. “We need to stop the excessive flow of nutrients to the Chesapeake bay to fix the problem. Climate change and pollution is just going to make it much worse.” 

Denise McGill, resident of Northern Timonium, owns private land and has lived near the Loch Raven Reservoir her entire life. As part of the Chesapeake Bay Estuary system lies in her backyard, McGill shares her experiences with the implications. 

“I don't ever go in that water and I mean I’ve lived here my whole life. I've seen neighbors dogs and sometimes even their kids get sick or have skin problems after going in.” McGill continues, “In the Summer I see people swimming in the river and it just doesn't sit right with me. All of the runoff from animals and land goes right into the water. There's a whole bunch of gross stuff and dense muck. It's not safe… I mean I know for a fact it's at least not healthy.”

Neglecting the Ecosystem

The interconnection of water bodies, like the Severn River, within the larger Chesapeake Bay ecosystem further emphasizes the pressing need for comprehensive, sustained efforts to combat climate change and pollution. Yet, the steady decrease in formal action to slow down the effects of climate change or even to restore the Chesapeake Bay under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Bay Program (EPA) has reached a new low in past years. For example, in 2020 the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia sued the EPA for violating a 2014 legal agreement regarding the Clean Water Act. (Fenston 2020) This plan set out to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. Additionally, another lawsuit was implemented by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Anne Arundel County, the Maryland Watermen's Association, and two farmers in Virginia. (Fiore 2023) 

In the wake of Ted McClanahan's tragic passing, our community's reality emerges – the threat posed by Vibrio vulnificus in our local Baltimorean waters is a growing concern that demands immediate attention. The alarming rise in fatalities attributed to this flesh-eating bacteria along the Eastern Coast serves as a reminder of the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures. The reluctance of authorities and landowners to take substantive action, driven by concerns of economic impact and reputation, emphasizes the critical need for a response. The legacy of Ted McClanahan and so many other victims should not be one of tragedy alone, but a catalyst for change in preserving our coastal environments and the lives they touch.

Sources

Fenston, J. (2020, September 11). D.C., Maryland and Virginia Sue EPA over failure to enforce Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. NPR. https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/09/11/911962903/d-c-maryland-and-virginia-sue-e-p-a-over-failure-to-enforce-chesapeake-bay-cleanup 

Fiore, K. (2023, September 5). CDC urges doctors to suspect deadly bacteria in wound infections. Medical News. https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/106188#:~:text=%22The%20northward%20V.%20vulnificus%20infection,to%20prevent%20major%20health%20outcomes.%22 

Kekatos, M. (2023, September 5). 6 die from “flesh-eating” bacteria in 3 East Coast states. Here’s what to know about Vibrio vulnificus. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/6-die-flesh-eating-bacteria-3-eeast-coast/story?id=102926186 

Haftel, A., & Sharman, T. (2023, June 12). Vibrio vulnificus infection . National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554404/ 

Interviewees:

Gerald Winegrad: gwwabc@comcast.net 

Nancy McClanahan: nmcclanahan@dilldinkers.com

Denise McGill: 410-868-1589