Fifth Person in Florida Dies of Flesh-Eating Bacteria: What to Know
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A 78-year-old man is the fifth person in Florida this year to die from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, a bacterium referred to as "flesh-eating" because it can destroy skin and muscle tissue.
Newsweek has reached out to Florida's Department of Health via email for comment on Saturday.
Why It Matters
While Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare, Florida saw a surge last year, with the state's Department of Health reporting 82 cases and 19 deaths, largely due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. This year, 16 cases have been reported, with the latest death marking the fifth. CBS News reported 13 confirmed cases, and 8 deaths, citing state health agency officials.
The bacteria typically grows in warm seawater and is part of a group of vibrios known as "halophilic" because they require salt, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The bacteria is found in higher numbers when water temperatures are warmer, typically from May through October, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What To Know
The man was vacationing with his family on St. George Island, off Florida's Panhandle, when he reportedly contracted the bacteria through a cut on his leg, News Channel 8 reported. He developed a fever the next day.
He then reportedly underwent five surgeries and two amputations, but ultimately, died on August 4.
The Florida Department of Health warns against entering the water with fresh cuts or scrapes and advises immunocompromised individuals to wear protective footwear to avoid injuries from rocks and shells on the beach. People can also contract the bacteria by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, with the health department confirming that a death in July was caused by an infection after the person ate raw oysters.
Cases are popping up along the Gulf, with the Louisiana Department of Health, in a July 30 press release, noting a recent uptick in cases. "To date this year, 17 cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported among Louisiana residents. All of these patients were hospitalized, and four of these illnesses resulted in death," the press release stated.
The statement noted that the case count is much higher than in recent years, stating, "During the same time period over the previous 10 years, an average of seven Vibrio vulnificus cases and one death were reported each year."
Inset: Grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria revealed in the 13184x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. A boat chugs along the Gulf as the sun sets over the horizon on March 19, 2020, in...
Inset: Grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria revealed in the 13184x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. A boat chugs along the Gulf as the sun sets over the horizon on March 19, 2020, in the St. George Island section of Eastpoint, Florida. More
Centers for Disease Control CDC /James Gathany/ Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/AP Photo/Julio Cortez
What People Are Saying
Public health physician and pulmonologist Dr. Vin Gupta told NBC News earlier this week: "[Vibrio vulnificus can] cause stomach upset, gastroenteritis...that's one very self-limited manifestation. The other that is vastly more serious is a wound infection which shows a hallmark skin rash that can really progress into a very severe infection. The third is a blood stream infection, which is what we are trying to avoid that can be life threatening, that's where early detection, early treatment is really critical."
Aileen Marty, professor of Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, previously told Newsweek: "Cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer. The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)."
What Happens Next?
Health officials advise against entering warm, salt or brackish water with open cuts or scrapes, or eating raw oysters and shellfish, and urge individuals who develop symptoms after exposure to seek medical attention immediately.
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