Florida reports second death from Vibrio vulnificus infection

Florida health officials said a second person died from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, with the latest fatality occurring in Marion County. The first death in the state was recorded in Palm Beach County, and the two cases represent the only deaths reported in the United States so far this year. The state health department has confirmed 14 additional infections, while Alabama reported six cases and Connecticut identified one case earlier in the year.

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that thrives in warm coastal and brackish waters, especially from May through October, and is most common along the Gulf Coast. Infection can result from exposure of an open wound to contaminated water or seafood, or from consuming raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters. Symptoms range from gastrointestinal distress to severe wound infection and bloodstream involvement, which can lead to rapid deterioration.

"About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC and the Cleveland Clinic note that individuals with liver disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems are at higher risk. They advise anyone showing signs of infection—such as fever, chills, skin lesions, or gastrointestinal symptoms—to seek emergency medical care immediately.

Public health agencies recommend avoiding exposure of cuts or recent surgical sites to seawater, cooking shellfish thoroughly, and using protective gloves when handling raw seafood to reduce the risk of infection.