flesh-eating bacteria?

At least four people in Florida have died this year after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria typically found in warm saltwater or brackish water, according to Florida’s Health Department. The state has reported 11 cases this year.

Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare; 150 to 200 cases are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each year. But the consequences can be severe. It can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies, and many people with Vibrio vulnificus infections require intensive care or limb amputation, according to the CDC. About 1 in 5 people who contract an infection die, sometimes within two days of becoming ill.
The Florida Health Department did not provide details about the deaths this year.
From 2016 to 2024, there were an average of about 49 infections each year in the state and about 11 deaths annually. In 2022 and 2024, reported deaths and infections were higher because of hurricane impacts.

What is Vibrio vulnificus?

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm, coastal areas in saltwater and brackish water — a mix of fresh water and saltwater often found where rivers meet the sea. It is known as flesh-eating bacteria because some infections “lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies,” according to the CDC. Researchers at the CDC first identified it as a source of disease in 1976.
It thrives in warmer waters — especially from May to October — and in low-salt marine environments such as estuaries, the CDC says. Infections from the bacteria have been mostly reported in Gulf Coast states, but cases increased eightfold in the Eastern United States from 1988 to 2018, while the northern geographical range of infections has increased 30 miles per year, according to the CDC.

How is it contracted?

People can contract Vibrio vulnificus if open wounds are exposed to warm, salty or brackish water containing the bacteria or sometimes by consuming raw or undercooked seafood, particularly raw shellfish such as oysters.
Coastal floods, hurricanes and storm surges drive waters inland, increasing the risk of exposure and infection.
As coastal water temperatures increase, infections are expected to become more common, according to one recent study.
Vibrio vulnificus can infect anyone, but people with liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system, as well as those taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels, are more likely to become infected or develop complications during an infection, The Washington Post previously reported.
There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of Vibrio vulnificus, according to the Florida Health Department.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The bacteria can invade the bloodstream, causing the breakdown of the skin and ulcers, fever, chills, decreased blood pressure (septic shock) and blistering skin lesions, Florida health officials said. Although healthy people can display mild symptoms, those with weakened immune systems or chronic liver ailments can suffer more serious complications, they said.
Medical professionals advise those who suspect they have a Vibrio vulnificus infection to go to an emergency room immediately.

Where is it commonly found in Florida?

Most cases have been reported in counties that suffered damage from overflowing water following hurricanes. In 2022, Collier and Lee counties experienced a higher than usual number of cases in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. And last year, the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota experienced jumps in cases following Hurricane Helene, state officials said.

How can you cure or prevent infection?

If an infection is found early, doctors can use antibiotics to treat it immediately. The Cleveland Clinic says providers are likely to prescribe antibiotics such as doxycycline, ceftazidime, cefotaxime or ciprofloxacin.
Other methods to help prevent skin infections from spreading include surgical debridement, during which a provider cleans dead tissue out of a patient’s wounds; draining fluid from blisters; amputation of affected limbs; medication such as norepinephrine (noradrenaline) that addresses low blood pressure; intravenous fluids; and oxygen therapy.
Florida health officials said people with open wounds or cuts should avoid contact with brackish water, saltwater and seafood from such waters.
Thoroughly cooking seafood and avoiding the consumption of raw seafood can prevent infection, they said. People should boil shellfish until the shells open and continue boiling for another five minutes, Florida health officials said, and people can steam them until the shells open before cooking for an additional nine minutes. Shucked oysters must be boiled for at least three minutes, or fried in oil that is 375 degrees for at least 10 minutes. Cooks should also avoid mixing raw seafood with other food. Leftovers should be refrigerated, and protective gear should be used when handling raw seafood.
People who are immunocompromised should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells in aquatic settings, they added.