Florida reports 22 Vibrio vulnificus infections and four deaths this year

The Florida Department of Health said 22 people have been infected with Vibrio vulnificus this year, resulting in four deaths across Bay, Broward, Marion and Palm Beach counties. The latest update, released on Sept. 17, added a confirmed case in Santa Rosa County involving a patient aged between 25 and 29. Florida recorded 33 cases and five deaths in 2025.

Along the Gulf Coast, Louisiana reported 17 cases and six deaths, most linked to wound exposure to seawater. Mobile County, Alabama logged 11 cases, Mississippi three, and Texas four. South Carolina, which does not require mandatory reporting, indicated three cases and one death.

Vibrio vulnificus thrives in brackish water and can be transmitted through open wounds or consumption of raw or undercooked oysters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that about 20% of infected individuals die, with higher risk for people who have compromised immune systems or chronic conditions such as liver disease, diabetes or cancer.

Health officials advise avoiding exposure of cuts, scrapes, recent surgical sites, tattoos or piercings to brackish water, and recommend washing skin with soap and water after contact. They also stress cooking seafood thoroughly and washing hands and surfaces after handling raw shellfish. Anyone experiencing sudden gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, or skin lesions after such exposure should seek immediate medical care.

"Open wounds can be very small cuts or scrapes," said a local resident who lost a leg after a Vibrio infection last year. "Even a minor mosquito bite that is scratched can provide an entry point for the bacteria."