Second Florida death related to flesh-eating Vibrio bacteria reported in Marion County
WUSF |
By
Rick Mayer
Published August 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM EDT
CDC
No details are known other than the patient was over 60 and the infection was reported in late May or late June. There have been 14 cases of the flesh-eating bacteria in Florida this year
Florida health officials have reported the year’s second death related to Vibrio vulnificus, the so-called flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters
On Thursday, a state Department of Health database listed a Vibrio death in Marion County in July
No details were added, but another state database included two Vibrio patients this year in Marion, one 60 to 64 years old between July 25 and Aug. 1 and another 70 to 74 years old during the final week of May
The state’s first death this year from Vibrio was reported in June and involved a Palm Beach County resident who was 80 to 84 years old
In both cases, only the reporting dates are known, not the days of death
Florida, which tends to have more infections than other states, has reported 14 Vibrio vulnificus cases this year, compared with 33 cases and five deaths all of last year
Records show more cases in years when Florida is hit by tropical storms and hurricanes
Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons
Vibrio vulnificus can enter the body through unhealed cuts and scrapes, recent piercings and tattoos, and recent surgical incisions
People should immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water after encountering coastal waters or raw seafood, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
ALSO READ: UF expert discusses Vibrio as Florida reaches eight cases through May
Most infections are reported from May to October, and most happen in states along the Gulf Coast. Doctors say the Gulf is an ideal environment with the right amounts of salt and heat to let this organism proliferate
Symptoms include fever, chills and hot red areas on the skin that turn dark and blister
Oysters are a particular risk, and there is no way to tell if an oyster is contaminated just by looking at it. Health officials also offer cooking instructions for clams, mussels and other shellfish. They recommend throwing away any with open shells before boiling or steaming
People should wash hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish and wear protective gloves if they have a weakened immune system and are at a higher risk of infection
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report
