Florida man to undergo below-knee amputation after Vibrio vulnificus infection

Health officials in Florida and Louisiana have reported a rise in Vibrio vulnificus infections, a marine bacterium that can cause necrotizing fasciitis. The state’s health department recorded 14 cases this year, two of which were fatal.

Benjamin West, 38, was fishing in Port St. Joe in late August 2025 when a cut on his ankle became infected after exposure to seawater. He sought medical care two days later but was initially diagnosed with cellulitis and given standard antibiotics, which are ineffective against Vibrio.

"He began complaining of serious burning in his foot and ankle and it began to swell terribly," his wife Janie West wrote in a fundraising appeal.

West’s condition deteriorated rapidly; he was placed on a ventilator and underwent six surgeries, including laser debridement, to remove infected tissue. Despite temporary improvement, the wound reopened, and his left leg swelled to eight times the size of his right leg, causing constant pain described as burning and electric-shock-like sensations.

"The pain he suffers from day-to-day now is worse than at the beginning," his wife added.

After ten months of treatment, including skin grafts and numerous wound dressings, doctors concluded that amputation below the knee was necessary. The procedure is planned for this week, and his family hopes it will improve his quality of life.

Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm, salty or brackish water and can enter the body through open wounds or consumption of raw shellfish. The CDC advises cooking shellfish thoroughly and avoiding exposure of cuts to seawater.

Public health officials continue to warn residents of coastal states to take precautions during the summer months to reduce the risk of infection.