By
- Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
Five people have died from flesh-eating bacterial infections in Louisiana in 2026, health officials announcedthis week
Nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported in Louisiana this year, according to state health officials. During the same period of time over the previous 10 years, Louisiana has reported an average of seven cases and only one death
All nine new cases were associated with wounds exposed to seawater and all of the patients had underlying health conditions, officials said
Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in warm coastal waters and are typically found in higher numbers from May to October. The bacteria can appear in warm salt waters as well as brackish waters, a mixture of salt and fresh water often found where rivers meet the ocean
Infections can occur when a person eats raw or undercooked seafoodor, in the Louisiana cases, when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur in the U.S. each year, with the majority resulting from eating contaminated seafood
Can cause serious illness
Vibrio infections are often serious and can result in gastrointestinal illness, infected wounds or blood poisoning. Some species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe or life-threatening infections that can require intensive care or limb amputations
About one in five people with Vibrio vulnificus infections die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill, health officials said. While Vibrio can cause severe symptoms in anyone, it can be especially dangerous for those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia, who are receiving immune-suppressing treatment, take medicines that reduce stomach acids or have recently undergone stomach surgery
Some Vibrio infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies, giving it its name as a “flesh-eating” virus
Symptoms of a vibrio infection
People should seek care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or saltwater becomes red, swollen, painful, warm or discolored. Signs of a vibrio wound infection include:
- Fever
- Redness, pain, swelling or warmth around the wound
- Skin discoloration
- Drainage or discharge.
Signs of bloodstream infection
- Fever
- Chills
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Blistering skin lesions
Common gastrointestinal symptoms of a Vibrio infection include
- Watery diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
Officials said to make sure to inform your healthcare provider if your wound was exposed to water
How to protect yourself against vibrio infection
- Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have an open wound, including cuts, scrapes, recent surgery wounds, or piercings.
- Cover wounds with a waterproof bandage if they could come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
- Wash wounds thoroughly with soap and after possible exposure.
- Cook seafood thoroughly, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish.
- Keep cooked seafood separate from raw seafood and its juices.
If you are in a high-risk group, you should also:
- Wear protective clothing and footwear to help prevent cuts and scrapes in coastal water.
- Wear gloves when handling raw seafood.
