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Heath expert warns about ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria in the Gulf
Health officials are warning residents and visitors along the Gulf Coast about the potentially deadly bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. (Credit: Dr. Jeffrey Cirillo, Texas A&M University, The Associated Press)
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. - A potentially deadly bacterial infection found in warm coastal waters is drawing attention as health officials warn people about the risks of eating raw shellfish or exposing open wounds to salt or brackish water.
Florida reports 23 cases of flesh-eating bacteria
By the numbers:
Florida health officials reported 23 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the state this year as of Sept. 24, including five deaths.
The Florida Department of Health reported last week that a Pinellas County resident was among five people who have died from Vibrio vulnificus in the state. The other four fatal cases were confirmed in Bay, Broward, Marion and Palm Beach counties.
(Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
Florida recorded 33 cases and five deaths in 2025. Cases and deaths were significantly higher in 2024, when the state recorded 82 cases and 19 deaths following Hurricane Helene.
Cases also reported in other states
Local perspective:
Louisiana has reported 15 cases and six deaths this year, according to The Associated Press. The state has averaged about seven cases and one death annually over the previous decade.
Meanwhile, other Vibrio vulnificus cases have been reported in North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, Mississippi and Connecticut.
There is not yet a current CDC nationwide tally specifically for Vibrio vulnificus infections in 2026. Individual states have reported cases and deaths this year.
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
Big picture view:
The bacteria, often described by media as a "flesh-eating" pathogen, occurs naturally in warm saltwater and brackish water, particularly where fresh and saltwater meet, according to health officials.
RELATED: Pinellas County resident dies from Vibrio vulnificus: FDOH
Health experts also say most cases of vibriosis overall are linked to eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Vibrio vulnificus can also cause dangerous wound infections when an open wound is exposed to coastal water.
Warmer conditions favorable for Vibrio bacteria
What they're saying:
Dr. Jeffrey D. Cirillo of the Texas A&M University College of Medicine said warmer water, flooding and runoff can create favorable conditions for the bacteria.
"It's natural to the environment. The only thing that's really kind of changed is the temperature. So as water temperature increases as it's hotter, then we see more of these bacteria around," Cirillo told The Associated Press. "The other things that can increase the frequency of Vibrio in the water system is flooding and any types of major weather patterns like hurricanes and so on. So, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, we all have Vibrio in the water. They're also normally on the coast. So out in the open ocean, we don't see a lot of vibrio there. But in that brackish water, so between the fresh water and the salt water, that border, that's where Vibrio lives. It prefers that environment. So we mostly see it along the coast."
How severe infections happen
Why you should care:
The most severe infections can occur when Vibrio vulnificus enters the body through a cut or puncture wound. Some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies.
People working with oysters, fishermen and swimmers or beachgoers with open wounds can be exposed. Once inside the body, the infection can progress rapidly.
Cirillo said the bacteria can multiply quickly and release toxins that can have systemic effects. In severe cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream and become life-threatening within a day or two.
Warning signs of a serious wound infection can include worsening pain, redness, swelling, warmth, discoloration, discharge or blistering around the affected area, particularly when accompanied by fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Medical attention should be sought immediately if those symptoms develop. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, and patients with systemic infections may require intravenous antibiotics and treatment for sepsis.
Who is most at risk?
Dig deeper:
Healthy people generally have a lower risk of developing severe illness. However, Vibrio vulnificus can pose a much greater threat to people with weakened immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions, particularly chronic liver disease.
Severe infections can cause fever, chills, septic shock and blistering skin lesions. Some patients require intensive care, while others may need amputations.
Health officials estimate that about one in five people who develop a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, with some deaths occurring within just a day or two after symptoms begin.
The CDC recommends seeking treatment as soon as possible when a potentially serious Vibrio infection is suspected rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation or consultation with an infectious-disease specialist.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official public health data released by the Florida Department of Health, along with other state department statistics. Health guidelines were also provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information was also gathered from The Associated Press and Dr. Jeffrey Cirillo of Texas A&M University. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous reporting from FOX 13 Tampa contributed.