Flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus kill at least 9 in Louisiana, Florida

At least nine people in Louisiana and Florida died this year after getting infected by the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, state health authorities said.

Infections occur mostly through open wounds, though 10% come from eating raw or undercooked shellfish.

Vibrio vulnificus infections, true to their flesh-eating moniker, incubate quickly and kill skin and soft tissue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a 2023 report.

As of Thursday, Florida had 16 Vibrio vulnificus cases in 2025, with five patients dying, according to data on the Florida Department of Health website.

In Louisiana, 17 people got sick from Vibrio vulnificus infections as of July 30, with four patients dead, the Louisiana Department of Health said in a report.

The Texas Department of State Health Services told The Houston Chronicle that five cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection have been reported there this year, with no deaths.

The Mississippi Department of Health told the New York Post on Monday that the state has seen 13 reported cases of infections by various types of Vibrio bacteria in 2025, with no deaths.

The Alabama Department of Health told the Post that as of last Friday, 25 cases of Vibrio infections were reported, with nine patients hospitalized and no deaths.

The number of infections is increasing over the summer because the bacteria thrive in warmer water and marine environments with a low amount of salt such as estuaries, Louisiana health officials said.