NEWS
Vibrio vulnificus ‘flesh-eating’ cases rising in Florida in new update
One person has died so far in 2026, the Florida Department of Health reported
C. A. BridgesUSA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
Aug. 6, 2026, 8:53 a.m. ET
- New cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a “flesh-eating bacteria,” were recently reported in Florida.
- The bacteria can be contracted by eating raw oysters or through open wounds in brackish water.
- While infections are uncommon, they can become life-threatening, especially for those with underlying health conditions.
New cases of Vibrio vulnificus, the so-called “flesh-eating bacteria,” were reported in Brevard and Marion counties, according to the latest report from the Florida Department of Health
The victim in Brevard, the county‘s first this year, is between 10 and 14 years of age, while the Marion victim is between 60 and 64, the Aug. 6 update shows
One death has been reported in Palm Beach County
That brings the 2026 total to 14. In 2025, there were 33 cases reported in Florida, and five deaths
Vibrio vulnificus infections, which can be contracted by eating raw oysters or touching brackish waters where seawater and freshwater mix, are rare. But those infections can rapidly become life-threatening in just a few hours, and victims may need emergency surgery — and in some cases amputation — to survive
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80,000 cases are reported each year in the U.S., and about 20% of people who contract the infection die, sometimes within a day or two
In Florida, infections are most common from June through September, when more people fish, hit the beach, go boating, or dine on fresh seafood. Cases can also rise after tropical storms and hurricanes, as storm surge pushes seawater into freshwater environments
Vibrio vulnificus cases in Florida
The latest Vibrio vulnificus case was confirmed in Bay County, its first this year, according to Florida Department of Health data through Aug. 1. Here’s where, along with changes since the previous week
- Cases:
- Bay County: 1
- Brevard: 1 (+1)
- Hillsborough County: 1
- Lee County: 2
- Marion County: 2 (+1)
- Miami-Dade County: 2
- Okaloosa County: 1
- Palm Beach County: 2
- Polk County: 1
- St. Johns County: 1
- Deaths:
- Palm Beach County: 1
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
Vibrio vulnificus naturally lives in brackish water, where fresh and salt water meet, including bays, estuaries, and much of Florida’s coastline. People are most often exposed by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters, or when an open wound, cut, or scrape comes into contact with brackish water
The bacterium is inaccurately nicknamed the “flesh-eating bacteria” because it can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a fast-spreading bacterial infection of the tissue under the skin that appears to eat away at the body. In the most serious cases, patients may require urgent and aggressive medical treatment to save affected limbs and even their lives
Who is most at risk of ‘flesh-eating bacteria’?
Anyone can get a Vibrio infection, health officials said, but few healthy people who come into contact with Vibrio bacteria become seriously ill
For some groups, even a minor exposure can lead to an abrupt medical emergency, amputated limbs, or death. Those at higher risk include:
- People with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia
- People receiving immunosuppressant therapy for the treatment of disease
- People taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels
- People who have had recent stomach surgery
- Older adults with multiple underlying health issues
For people in these higher-risk groups, physicians often advise avoiding raw oysters entirely and staying out of the water during the summer months when they have open cuts, scrapes, or recently healed surgical wounds
What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus?
According to the CDC, common symptoms of Vibrio infection may include:
- Watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever
- Bloodstream infection: fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions
- Wound infection, which may spread to the rest of the body: fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge (leaking fluids)
If you experience these symptoms after eating raw seafood or being exposed to floodwaters, seek medical attention immediately. Healthcare professionals can treat the infection with antibiotics, but in extreme cases, arms and legs may need to be amputated to remove dead or infected tissue
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY
