Four deaths reported in Florida this year due to flesh-eating bacteria, according to officials.
In recent months, Florida has encountered a concerning spike in fatalities connected to infections from a rare flesh-eating bacterium known as Vibrio vulnificus. The Florida Department of Health has reported that at least four individuals have succumbed to this bacterial infection in the current year. Vibrio vulnificus typically inhabits warm, brackish seawater and poses significant health risks, particularly when humans consume raw or undercooked shellfish, notably oysters.
Although these infections are relatively uncommon, they can have dire consequences, including limb amputations or death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20% of those infected with this bacterium may die, with some patients experiencing rapid declines in health, sometimes within a mere day or two of falling ill.
Infections from Vibrio vulnificus can arise from consuming contaminated seafood or from exposing open wounds to saltwater. Health officials in Florida have noted that the actual incidence of such infections may be underreported, complicating efforts for effective monitoring and response. Historical data from the CDC indicates that between 1988 and 2006, over 900 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections were documented in Gulf Coast states, where the majority of cases occur. While there was no comprehensive national surveillance system for this bacterium until 2007, subsequent collaboration between the CDC and state health authorities facilitated increased tracking of cases across the region.
Since being classified as “nationally notifiable,” reported cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the Eastern United States surged eightfold from 1988 to 2018. In contrast to the lack of reported fatalities in the U.S. Northeast in 2024, the summer of 2023 witnessed at least three deaths due to infections—two in Connecticut and one in Suffolk County, New York.
The increase in Vibrio infections has been linked to rising water temperatures along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard. In response to this growing public health concern, New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to remain vigilant and adopt necessary precautions to safeguard themselves and their families. In Florida, the previous year saw 82 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus, 19 of which were fatal. Health officials attributed this alarming rise in infections to the floodwaters resulting from Hurricane Helene, which significantly impacted several counties in the Tampa Bay area.
Residents and health officials alike are advised to remain cautious about raw seafood consumption and to take preventive measures to mitigate the risks associated with this dangerous bacterium.
