Human pathogens found in untreated wastewater are especially harmful to Elkhorn coral. "Serra marcescens", commonly called white pox disease, is extremely lethal and contagious. The disease first causes the coral to emit a foul smelling mucus, followed by the formation of thick lesions, which then fall off, removing coral tissue. These lesions grow quickly, and can grow up to 10.5 cm2 per day, causing tissue loss of 2.5 cm2 per day. This disease helped put the Elkhorn coral on the endangered species list in 2006 after a case of "Serra marcescens" wiped out 75% of the Caribbean corals in 2005.