Another Person Dies from Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Florida

Florida has recorded another death from the potentially deadly bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, bringing the state’s 2026 death toll to five as health officials continue warning residents about raw shellfish and exposure to coastal waters.

The latest fatality was reported in Pinellas County, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. As of Sept. 24, the state had confirmed 23 cases of Vibrio vulnificus this year and five deaths.

The other deaths were reported in Bay, Broward, Marion and Palm Beach counties.

The five fatalities already equal Florida’s total for all of 2025, when 33 cases and five deaths were recorded.

However, this year’s numbers remain well below the unusually severe 2024 season, when Florida reported 82 cases and 19 deaths. State health officials said several Gulf Coast counties experienced an unusual increase in infections that year following Hurricane Helene.

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that occurs naturally in warm coastal waters, including salt water and brackish water where fresh and salt water mix.

It is sometimes referred to as a “flesh-eating bacteria” because certain infections can develop into necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly progressing condition in which tissue surrounding an infected wound begins to die.

The nickname can be misleading, however. Vibrio vulnificus is one of several bacteria capable of causing necrotizing fasciitis.

People can become infected in two main ways.

One is by eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters. Because oysters filter large amounts of water as they feed, bacteria naturally present in the water can become concentrated inside them.

The second is through an open wound exposed to coastal water.

Cuts, scrapes, recent surgical wounds, tattoos and piercings can potentially provide an entry point for the bacteria. Handling raw seafood can also pose a risk if juices or drippings come into contact with an open cut.

Most Vibrio infections do not become life-threatening, but Vibrio vulnificus can be particularly dangerous once it enters the bloodstream or causes a serious wound infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in five people who develop a Vibrio vulnificus infection die. In the most severe cases, patients can become critically ill within a short period of time and may require intensive care or surgery.

Doctors may sometimes need to remove infected or dead tissue, and severe infections can lead to amputation.

Symptoms from an intestinal infection can include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.

A wound infection may cause rapidly increasing redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration or drainage around the affected area.

If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, symptoms can become much more serious and may include fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

Health officials urge anyone who develops signs of a serious wound infection after being in coastal water or handling raw seafood to seek medical attention immediately.

Anyone can contract Vibrio, but certain people have a much greater risk of developing severe illness.

Those at increased risk include people with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or other conditions that weaken the immune system. People taking immune-suppressing medications or medications that reduce stomach acid may also face increased risk.

For those individuals, eating raw oysters can be particularly dangerous.

The CDC recommends eating seafood only after it has been thoroughly cooked.

For oysters and other shellfish still in their shells, officials recommend boiling them until the shells open and continuing to boil them for another three to five minutes, or steaming them for an additional four to nine minutes after the steamer is already producing steam.

Shellfish that fail to open during cooking should be discarded.

Shucked oysters can be boiled for at least three minutes, fried in oil at 375 degrees for at least three minutes, broiled about three inches from the heat for three minutes or baked at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.

Hot sauce, lemon juice and alcohol do not kill Vibrio bacteria.

Vibrio tends to thrive when coastal waters are warmer, which is one reason infections are often associated with the summer months.

But health officials caution against relying on the traditional idea that oysters are safe during certain months of the year.

The CDC says people can become sick from contaminated oysters during any month, and Vibrio infections have been reported year-round.

Cooking shellfish thoroughly remains the most effective way to kill harmful Vibrio bacteria.

Beachgoers should also take precautions.

People with open wounds are advised to stay out of salt water and brackish water when possible. If contact cannot be avoided, wounds should be covered with a waterproof bandage.

Any cut or wound exposed to coastal water should be washed thoroughly with soap and clean running water afterward.

Florida’s 23 cases this year have been spread across numerous counties.

The five deaths represent a significant reminder of how serious Vibrio vulnificus can become, particularly for older adults and people with underlying medical conditions.

Florida has seen the disease fluctuate considerably from year to year.

The state recorded 46 cases and 11 deaths in 2023, followed by 82 cases and 19 deaths in 2024. Cases then fell to 33 with five deaths in 2025.

Through Sept. 24 of this year, Florida had recorded 23 cases and five deaths.

The bacteria itself is not an indication that coastal water is polluted. Vibrio occurs naturally in marine environments, particularly warmer coastal waters.

That means even oysters legally harvested from approved waters can potentially contain the bacteria.

For Floridians who regularly swim, fish, handle shellfish or eat raw oysters, health officials say simple precautions — cooking seafood thoroughly and keeping open wounds away from coastal water — can significantly reduce the risk.