A Palm Beach County resident has died in the state’s first fatal case of a “flesh-eating” bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Vibrio Vulnificus Cases in Florida
In 2025, Florida reported 33 cases of Vibrio vulnificus and five deaths, according to reports from the Florida Department of Health. In 2024, 82 cases and 19 deaths were recorded, after Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties saw an unusual increase that health officials attributed to the effects of Hurricane Helene.
Most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters. Some people get vibriosis after an open wound comes into contact with coastal waters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cases of Vibrio vulnificus tend to increase between May and October, when coastal waters are warmer and more people go to the beach or eat raw oysters.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
