Four individuals in Florida have lost their lives to a strain of flesh-eating bacteria this year, as confirmed by the state’s health department. The bacteria, known as Vibrio vulnificus, is part of a larger group of Vibrio bacteria found in coastal waters, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This particular strain thrives in warm, brackish seawater and can infiltrate the body through open wounds while swimming. Raw shellfish, particularly oysters, are another potential source of infection, as noted by Florida Health.
Infections from Vibrio vulnificus are rare but can lead to a condition known as vibriosis. Symptoms often include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, along with severe skin infections. Signs of a skin infection from Vibrio include fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge. While healthy individuals usually experience mild symptoms, those with compromised immune systems or chronic liver disease are at a higher risk of severe health complications.
If the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can result in a severe illness characterized by fever, chills, septic shock, and blistering skin lesions. Approximately half of these bloodstream infections prove fatal. In extreme cases, the bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a condition where the flesh around an open wound dies, earning Vibrio vulnificus the moniker of “flesh-eating bacteria.”
Florida Health has reported no instances of person-to-person transmission. Diagnosis of the bacterial infection involves testing cultures obtained from stool, wounds, or blood. For mild infections, the CDC advises increasing fluid intake to prevent dehydration. In cases where wounds are infected, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove dead tissue. In some instances, amputation of the infected limb may be required.
The CDC estimates that about one in five people will succumb to the infection, sometimes within a day or two of falling ill. To prevent infection, health officials advise against entering warm saltwater or brackish water with fresh cuts, scrapes, or wounds. They also recommend avoiding consumption of raw oysters and other raw shellfish, and to prevent cross-contamination of other foods with raw seafood or its juices. Protective gloves should be worn when handling raw shellfish.
Those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, as well as those taking immune-suppressing medications, are at a higher risk of complications and should take extra precautions. In 2024, Florida Health reported a total of 82 cases of Vibrio vulnificus and 19 deaths. The previous year saw 46 cases and 11 deaths.