10
Loading video...
By Alice Gibbs and Anna Skinner
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Florida has reported a rise in cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but potentially deadly bacterium often referred to as "flesh-eating bacteria," with state health officials recording 12 infections and one death so far in 2026. The latest case was reported in Bay County, according to data released by the Florida Department of Health.
The increase comes during the peak summer season, when warm coastal waters create favorable conditions for the bacteria and more people are spending time at beaches, boating, fishing or eating raw shellfish. Florida reported 33 cases and five deaths linked to Vibrio vulnificus in 2025.
Although infections are uncommon, health officials warn they can become life-threatening in a matter of hours. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about one in five people with severe Vibrio vulnificus infections die, sometimes within one or two days of becoming ill.
Read More on News
The bacterium naturally occurs in saltwater and brackish water, where fresh and salt water mix. People can become infected after an open wound comes into contact with contaminated water or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
"It can cause dramatic infections, but it's pretty uncommon," Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Newsweek. "When you look at how often people go into the water and how many people actually get this infection...this isn't a risk that's very common."
Still, there are some simple things beachgoers or people consuming shellfish can do to prevent infection, Adalja said. For example, people who are immunocompromised or who have open cuts or scrapes should not go into the water where the infection has been reported.
Related Story
Scientists Just Found What’s Fueling the World’s Top Food Poisoning Bug
What Are the Symptoms of Vibrio Vulnificus Infection?
The symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection depend on how the bacteria enter the body.
For people who become infected through contaminated seafood, symptoms can include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
When the bacteria enter through a cut, scrape or other wound, symptoms may include:
- Redness around the wound
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling
- Warmth around the affected area
- Skin discoloration
- Fluid or discharge from the wound
- Fever
The CDC warns that wound infections can rapidly worsen and may develop into necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection that destroys tissue beneath the skin. This is why Vibrio vulnificus is often described as a "flesh-eating bacteria," although several different types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis.
In severe cases, the infection can spread into the bloodstream. Symptoms of bloodstream infection include:
- Fever and chills
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Blistering skin lesions
- Sepsis and other life-threatening complications
The CDC advises anyone who develops symptoms after exposure to coastal waters or after eating raw seafood to seek medical attention, particularly if symptoms worsen quickly.
...
Who Is Most at Risk?
Anyone can become infected with Vibrio bacteria, but severe illness is more likely among people with underlying health conditions. Individuals with liver disease, weakened immune systems or other chronic medical conditions face a higher risk of serious complications from Vibrio vulnificus infection.
Health officials note that many healthy people exposed to the bacteria do not become seriously ill. However, because severe infections can progress rapidly, early treatment is critical.
Latest Advice for Beachgoers and Seafood Consumers
The CDC recommends avoiding contact between open wounds and saltwater or brackish water whenever possible. People with cuts or scrapes who plan to swim, fish or boat should cover wounds with a waterproof bandage. Any wounds exposed to seawater should be washed thoroughly with soap and clean water.
The agency also advises consumers to avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters and other shellfish, which remain a major source of infection.
Florida's cases remain well below the total reported last year, but the latest increase serves as a reminder that the risk tends to rise during the state's hottest months and can be heightened after tropical storms and hurricanes, when seawater is pushed into new areas.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and James Debens
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines