{"id":968447,"date":"2026-07-30T06:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T06:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/968447\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T06:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T06:12:23","slug":"florida-reports-first-2026-death-from-flesh-eating-bacteria-how-to-reduce-your-risk-of-vibrio-vulnificus-infection-before-dining-or-swimming-in-the-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/968447\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida reports first 2026 death from flesh-eating bacteria. How to reduce your risk of Vibrio vulnificus infection before dining or swimming in the ocean."},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida health officials confirmed the state’s first death this year from the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus. The death in Palm Beach County is also the first reported U.S. death from the bacterium in 2026.<\/p>\n

There have been 11 other cases confirmed across Florida, according to the state’s health department<\/a>. Elsewhere, there have been a total of six confirmed cases<\/a> in Alabama, while Connecticut detected a case in February, according to state public health departments.<\/p>\n

They come as Stony Brook University announced new research<\/a> in April, finding that some bays and waterways off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., have developed the right conditions for Vibrio vulnificus to thrive.<\/p>\n

Vibrio vulnificus cases are considered rare, with between 100 and 200 infections reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. However, many people with an infection can become seriously ill, requiring intensive care or limb amputation. “About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Infections caused by other Vibrio species are much more common, with about 80,000 cases of vibriosis per year.<\/p>\n

Does this mean you should avoid the ocean altogether? Here’s what to know and what safety measures to keep in mind:<\/p>\n

What is ‘Vibrio vulnificus’?<\/p>\n

Vibrio are a type of bacteria that thrive in warm coastal waters during the summer months from May to October. This includes salt water and brackish water, which is a mixture of salt and fresh water often found where rivers meet the ocean. The bacteria are found particularly along the Gulf Coast states like Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi.<\/p>\n

There are different kinds of Vibrio that can lead to various infections. Vibrio vulnificus can be particularly dangerous because it can cause severe and life-threatening infections. This specific type of bacteria is known as “flesh-eating” because it can destroy muscle tissue and skin. “Many people with [Vibrio] vulnificus wound infection require intensive care or surgical tissue removal,” the CDC says<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How do people get infected?<\/p>\n

There are two ways that people can get infected:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    When a person’s open wound is exposed to ocean water or seafood contaminated with Vibrio bacteria. A small cut, scrape or wound from a recent surgery, piercing or tattoo can allow bacteria in. This can happen when a person goes swimming or fishing or prepares raw seafood.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    When someone eats raw or undercooked seafood or ingests contaminated water while swimming. Oysters, in particular, can concentrate the Vibrio bacteria inside them.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What are the symptoms of a ‘Vibrio’ infection?<\/p>\n

    These are the common signs and symptoms of a Vibrio infection, according to the CDC:<\/p>\n