Two cases of a rare “flesh-eating” bacterial infection have been reported near Jacksonville in the St. Augustine area, with one resulting in death. Statewide, the infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus has led to four deaths so far this year.
As of July 11, the Florida Department of Health reported a total of 11 Vibrio vulnificus cases across the state, with those cases accounting for all four fatalities.
The rare “flesh-eating” bacteria are typically found in saltwater, brackish water, and contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. But with cases rising, it raises a troubling question: are warmer summer temperatures fueling a seasonal surge, or is the increase more closely tied to the types of water where the bacteria thrive?
Infections caused by the bacteria are rare, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting an average of 150 to 200 cases annually. Cases are most often reported in the Gulf Coast states, though research has shown it migrating north as climate change fuels warmer oceans.
Where have cases of the ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria been reported in Florida 2025?
According to the Florida Health Department, the cases were identified in the following counties:
Where in Florida have people died of the ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria ?
The four fatalities were reported of dying as a result of “flesh-eating” bacteria in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties.
Who is most susceptible to getting ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria?
Health officials are urging residents and visitors to take precautions, especially those with open wounds or weakened immune systems.
Most healthy people exposed to the bacteria experience only mild symptoms. For some, however, the bacteria can be deadly – especially if it enters the bloodstream or kills flesh around an open wound. About one in five people die from the infection, according to the CDC, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Others may require surgery or even amputation after their exposure.
Here’s what to know about Vibrio vulnificus:
What kind of water does Vibrio vulnificus live in?
Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in coastal waters year-round. Vibrio vulnificus requires saltwater to live and spread, though it can thrive in brackish water, where a stream or river meets seawater.
Most infections occur when people swallow contaminated water or get it in an open wound. Another source of infection is contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish such as oysters.
In Florida, which leads the nation in Vibrio vulnificus infections, spikes in cases and deaths coincide with major hurricanes, when seawater is carried on shore, triggering flooding and dumping seawater into freshwater sources.
Between 2016 to 2024, an average of 48 Vibrio vulnificus cases and about 11 deaths were reported annually in Florida. In 2022, when Hurricane Ian battered communities along the southwest coast, there were 74 reported cases and 17 deaths. Last year, the state recorded 82 cases and 19 deaths – a surge health officials tied to a pair of damaging hurricanes, Helene and Milton.
Why is it called a ‘flesh-eating bacteria’?
Vibrio vulnificus kills, but does not eat tissue. The bacteria cannot penetrate unharmed skin, but can enter through an existing break.
If the bacteria enters the body through a cut, scrape or wound, it can cause necrotizing fasciitis, and the flesh around the infection site could die.
Those infected through wounds may require major surgery or limb amputations, according to the CDC.
What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus?
Common symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, according to the CDC.
When open wounds are exposed to contaminated salt or brackish water, Vibrio vulnificus can cause discoloration, swelling, skin breakdown and ulcers. The bacteria can also invade the bloodstream and threaten severe and life-threatening illnesses such as septic shock, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.
“Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time,” according to the Florida Department of Health.
How to avoid Vibrio vulnificus?
Below are some tips to avoid Vibrio vulnificus, according to the Florida Department of Health and the CDC.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Are cases of Vibrio vulnificus rising in Florida? Why do they surge in summer waters?
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and C. A. Bridges, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
