Another person has died of Vibrio vulnificus in Florida, according to state health data released Sept. 24, bringing the total deaths this year to five. The health department does not release identifying details, but the victim in Pinellas County was described as being between 50 and 54 years old.
That makes more than a dozen people who have died from rare infections of the so-called "flesh-eating bacteria" in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina this year, according to state health data and reports. More than 60 cases have been reported in coastal U.S. states.
While Florida has the most cases — 23 as of Sept. 19 — Louisiana has seen the most deaths. Health officials have reported seven deaths, as of Sept. 23, out of 19 cases. Of those, 17 were
from exposure of wounds or open cuts to brackish water.
The latest Florida Health Department data show five deaths so far in 2026, in Bay, Broward, Marion, Palm Beach, and Pinellas counties. Throughout the state, 23 cases have been reported in 14 counties.
Florida recorded 33 cases and five deaths in 2025.
The Mobile County Health Department has reported 11 cases of vibriosis as of Sept. 21. The Mississippi Department of Health has not reported September numbers yet, but reported 3 cases as of August. At least four cases have been reported in Texas. South Carolina does not require cases to be reported, but the state Department of Public Health told WMBF News it was aware of three cases and one related death this year.
The bacterium can be found where seawater and freshwater meet, and in raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters. Infection is very rare, but it can become life-threatening within hours and may require emergency surgery and even rapid amputation to prevent spreading.
About 1 in 5 people who develop the infection die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Vibrio vulnificus cases in Florida
According to Florida Department of Health data through Sept. 19, cases have been reported in:
- Cases:
- Bay County: 2
- Brevard County: 1
- Broward County: 2
- Duval County: 1
- Hillsborough County: 1
- Lee County: 2
- Marion County: 2
- Miami-Dade County: 2
- Okaloosa County: 1
- Palm Beach County: 2
- Pinellas County: 1
- Polk County: 2
- Santa Rosa County: 3
- St. Johns County: 1
- Deaths:
- Bay County: 1
- Broward County: 1
- Marion County: 1
- Palm Beach County: 1
- Pinellas County: 1
How to avoid getting infected with Vibrio vulnificus
People can contract Vibrio vulnificus when bacteria enter the body through cuts, scrapes, or open wounds, or by eating contaminated seafood that has not been cooked thoroughly.
Health officials advise keeping open wounds out of brackish water, which can be found in bays, estuaries, river mouths, and flood zones. That includes fresh tattoos and piercings, recent surgical sites, and even minor cuts or scrapes. Once you're out of the water, wash any exposed skin with soap and running water.
Cook your seafood, especially oysters. If you handle raw seafood at home, wash your hands thoroughly, along with any surfaces it may have touched. If you are at high risk, wear gloves.
Vibrio Vulnificus is called the "flesh-eating bacteria" because it can cause necrotizing fasciitis that rapidly destroys muscle and skin tissue and can cause flesh around wounds to die, the CDC said. If an infection is not treated, it can quickly result in tissue damage and spreading blisters, low blood pressure, fever, organ damage, sepsis, and death.
The peak season for Vibrio vulnificus infection is between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer.
Who is at risk for Vibrio vulnificus infections?
Anyone can become infected, but most people with healthy immune systems fight it off without ever noticing it.
People at the highest risk of severe illness include those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, as well as people taking immune-suppressing medications, people who use acid-reducing drugs, people who recently underwent stomach surgery, and older adults with multiple underlying health issues.
What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus?
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus develop quickly, usually within 24 hours of exposure, according to the CDC. They include:
- Watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever
- Fever, chills, low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions
- Redness, swelling, pain, warmth, discoloration, and drainage from infected wounds
Anyone who develops symptoms after exposure to brackish water or eating raw seafood should seek immediate medical attention. Once inside the body, the infection can spread to the blood and organs, usually within hours.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY..
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida's Vibrio vulnificus death toll rises to 5 in latest state update
