'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria Kills 7 in Gulf Coast States. What to Know About Vibrio Vulnificus.
State health officials reported 14 confirmed cases this year and warned that people with underlying conditions face the highest risk of severe illness.
- A Marion County resident has died after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, marking the second death in Florida attributed to the rare bacterium this year, the Florida Department of Health reported on Thursday.
- Health officials have confirmed 14 total cases in Florida this year, as Vibrio bacteria thrive in warm coastal and brackish waters, entering the body through open wounds or raw shellfish consumption.
- The Florida Department of Health states about 1 in 5 infected individuals die, while healthy people typically develop mild symptoms; those with chronic liver disease or weakened immune systems face severe risks.
- Anyone with a wound exposed to coastal water should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and "tell the health care provider about the water exposure" if symptoms develop.
- Florida recorded 33 cases and 5 deaths during all of last year, providing context as officials monitor the 14 infections reported so far in 2026 amid rising concerns over warm-water bacterial proliferation.
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12 Articles
Florida Confirms 2nd Death in 2026 From Flesh-Eating Bacteria Found Near Beaches
A second person in Florida has died from Vibrio vulnificus, a rare bacteria that is sometimes described as “flesh-eating,” so far this year, health officials reported. Fourteen other cases have also been reported in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Health in data that was posted to its website on Aug. 6. Last week, officials in Florida confirmed the first death in 2026 along with 12 cases at the time. Five people have also died so fa…
LancasterOnline
Independent EspañolBATON ROUGE, Louisiana, USA (AP) — Louisiana’s health authorities are urging those on the beach to take precautions due to an increase in infections from a “meat-eating” bacterium found in coastal waters.
Louisiana confirmed nine infections and five deaths so far this year, while Florida recorded 14 other infections. Microorganism can enter the body by open wounds or by consuming raw seafood.
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