Eighth Vibriosis Death Reported in Florida Amid Rising Gulf Coast Cases

Health officials in Florida confirmed the death of an eighth person this year from complications of a Vibrio vulnificus infection, a type of vibriosis that can cause severe skin lesions, septic shock and rapid tissue loss. The case was reported in Bay County, a region that has now recorded three deaths from the disease.

State health departments said a total of about 30 infections have been confirmed in Gulf Coast states, with nine cases and one death reported in Louisiana and three deaths in Florida. Louisiana’s Department of Health noted that all nine cases this year involved wounds exposed to seawater and that each patient had underlying health conditions.

The United States experiences roughly 150-200 vibriosis infections annually, about half of which occur in the Gulf states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The bacteria thrives in coastal waters, especially from May through October when water temperatures rise, and is commonly found in oysters and other raw shellfish.

"Signs of a bloodstream infection include fever, chills, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions," the Louisiana Department of Health warned.

People with compromised immune systems—such as those with cancer, liver disease, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia, or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs—are at higher risk of severe outcomes, including necrotizing fasciitis, which can lead to amputation or death within days.

Public health agencies advise avoiding raw shellfish, protecting open wounds from warm salt or brackish water, and wearing protective gloves and footwear when in coastal environments.

The spike in cases and fatalities this year follows extensive flooding from recent hurricanes, which officials say may have contributed to higher exposure rates.