17-07-2025
Flesh-eating bacteria has killed 4 in Florida. Here's what to know.
At least four people in Florida have died this year after contracting flesh-eating bacteria typically found in warm saltwater or brackish water, according to Florida's Health Department. The state has reported 11 cases this year.
Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare; 150 to 200 cases are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each year. But the consequences can be severe. It can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies, and many people with Vibrio vulnificus infections require intensive care or limb amputation, according to the CDC. About 1 in 5 people who contract an infection die, sometimes within two days of becoming ill.
