Florida reports 15 Vibrio vulnificus cases, two deaths in 2026

Florida has reported 15 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, including two deaths, according to the state's Department of Health. The cases have renewed attention on the risks of this so-called "flesh-eating" bacterium, which thrives in warm coastal waters Source: infobae.

The cases

• Florida: 15 cases, with deaths in Marion County (a resident aged 60–64) and Brevard County (a resident aged 10–14) Source: infobae.
• Louisiana: 9 cases, with 5 deaths; Maryland reported 72 cases by late June Source: elconfidencial.

A survivor's warning

Genevieve Gallagher, a Pensacola woman, contracted the infection in July 2025 after entering the water with a cut on her leg during a family boat trip. She developed sepsis, was intubated for six days, and lost a significant portion of her left leg below the knee. "I woke up and a large part of my lower leg was no longer there," she said Source: infobae.

Why it's spreading

Vibrio vulnificus naturally lives in warm coastal waters and can enter the body through open wounds or consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters Source: infobae. The CDC notes that infections can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe tissue-destroying condition Source: elconfidencial.

Climate change is expanding the bacterium's range. Warming ocean temperatures have allowed it to appear along the East Coast as far north as New York and Connecticut. A study found that wound infections from Vibrio vulnificus increased eightfold between 1988 and 2018 in the eastern U.S. Source: elconfidencial.

What's next

Health officials urge caution for swimmers and seafood consumers, especially during warmer months (May–October). Avoiding water entry with open wounds and thoroughly cooking shellfish are key preventive measures Source: elconfidencial.