Deadly infection: Florida reports first rare, flesh-eating bacteria death of the year
A member of a search and rescue team being hosed down with bleach and soap after Hurricane Katrina to protect against toxins and bacteria like Vibrio Vulnificus. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times / Getty Images)
Health officials in Florida are reporting the first flesh-eating bacteria death of 2026 in Palm Beach County.
The flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus — is a rare and potentially deadly bacteria that naturally occurs in warm saltwater and brackish water. However, the Florida Department of Health said most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
Since it is naturally found in warm waters, people with open wounds can be exposed to the flesh-eating bacteria through direct contact with seawater.
So far this year, there have been 11 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus, according to health officials. Of those cases, one person has reportedly died.
Under a high magnification of 13184X, this digitally-colorized scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image depicts a grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. (Janice Haney Carr / CDC / FOX Weather)
Last year, there were five total flesh-eating bacteria deaths. But in the years before that, deaths were in the double digits.
The Florida Department of Health said several counties experienced unusual increases in cases due to Hurricane Ian and Helene in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
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Health officials said Florida is prone to severe weather events and after a storm such as a hurricane, floodwaters and standing water pose risks for Vibrio vulnificus exposure.
"It's important to take precautions against infection and illness following any storm event," the Florida Department of Health said.
Flesh Eating disease and life-threatening bacteria as flesh-eating bacterial infection outbreak of a rare Necrotizing Fasciitis infecting the skin and flesh as a deadly illness. (Getty Images)
People who are healthy typically develop a mild disease, but the flesh-eating bacteria can be a serious concern for people who have weakened immune systems, particularly those with chronic liver disease, according to health officials.
The bacteria can invade the bloodstream, causing a severe and potentially life-threatening illness with symptoms like fever, chills, septic shock and blistering skin lesions.
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Many people infected by Vibrio vulnificus require intensive care or limb amputations, and about one in five people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming sick, according to health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeking treatment as soon as possible, and don't wait for consultation with an infectious disease specialist or for laboratory confirmation of the flesh-eating bacteria.
The bacteria can be identified in the stool, wound or blood of a patient with symptoms. Click here for the latest guidance from the CDC.
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