Florida health officials report second Vibrio vulnificus death in Marion County this year
The Florida Department of Health confirmed that a Marion County resident died from Vibrio vulnificus, marking the state’s second fatal case in 2026 and bringing the year’s total to 14 confirmed infections.
A Marion County resident has died after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium that thrives in warm coastal and brackish waters, according to the Florida Department of Health. The death is the second Vibrio-related fatality reported in Florida in 2026, with state officials confirming 14 cases so far this year.
The department did not disclose the victim’s identity or how the infection was acquired. Vibrio vulnificus is naturally present where fresh and salt water mix, and infection can occur through consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, or when an open wound contacts contaminated water.
Symptoms range from gastrointestinal distress to severe wound infections that may progress to septic shock and skin lesions. The agency notes that about 20% of those infected die, with bloodstream infections fatal in roughly half of cases, and that individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic liver or kidney disease are at higher risk.
Health officials advise the public to avoid raw oysters and other uncooked shellfish, ensure seafood is thoroughly cooked, and keep open wounds away from salt, brackish, or flood waters. Anyone who develops infection signs after exposure should seek medical attention promptly.
Florida recorded 33 confirmed Vibrio cases and five deaths in 2025, and 82 cases with 19 deaths in 2024, the latter surge linked to an unusual spike after Hurricane Helene.