Florida reports first 2026 death from flesh-eating bacteria; 12 cases total

Florida has recorded its first death of 2026 in the United States from the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, with state health authorities reporting 12 cases so far this year.

What happened

The death occurred in Palm Beach County, according to the Florida Department of Health's latest bulletin Source: diariolibree. The 12 confirmed cases are spread across Miami-Dade (2), Palm Beach (2), Lee (2), Bay, Hillsborough, Marion, Okaloosa, Polk and St. Johns Source: infobae. In 2025, the state reported 33 cases and five deaths Source: diariolibree.

• The victim was a Palm Beach resident aged 80–84; one report says the death was notified in June and confirmed in late July Source: infobae, while the EFE wire says it was registered on Thursday Source: infobae.
• Louisiana, which had 26 cases and five deaths in 2025, has not yet published its 2026 tally Source: diariolibree.

Risk and advice

Vibrio vulnificus lives in warm salt and brackish water and can enter through open wounds or raw shellfish, especially oysters Source: infobae. Health officials advise people with recent wounds, autoimmune disease, or chronic kidney or liver conditions to stay out of the water Source: diariolibree. The CDC estimates 150–200 infections nationally each year and a fatality rate of roughly one in five Source: diariolibree. Although cases are isolated and not an outbreak, monitoring is heightened during summer and after storms Source: infobae.