Health officials have issued a warning after a rare flesh-eating bacteria has claimed four lives in Florida.
The deaths and at least seven additional illnesses were linked to a rare but dangerous bacterium known as Vibrio vulnificus, per the Department of Health.
The fatalities were reported across Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties.
Since 2016, Florida has documented 448 infections and 100 deaths tied to this pathogen — a trend that has only recently accelerated, especially following hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton that saturated freshwater supplies with saltwater contaminants.
The bacteria thrive in saltwater and brackish water, where rivers meet the ocean, per USA Today.
It also concentrates on raw or undercooked shellfish, such as oysters.
For many, the infection triggers mild gastrointestinal distress such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.
But if the bacteria enter through a wound or reach the bloodstream, it can lead to septic shock, necrotizing fasciitis (“flesh-eating” disease), dangerously low blood pressure, skin blisters, and in severe cases, amputation.
Disturbingly, around 20% of bloodstream infections are fatal, often within 24–48 hours.
Experts link the surge in cases to extreme weather events and warming oceans.
Dr. Daniel Egan from Orlando Health explained to WESH: “There’s fresh water, salt water, and this bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus likes salt water.”
Storm surges carry saltwater into freshwater systems, contaminating places where residents swim or fish. In 2022 and 2023, cases spiked following Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton.
Health authorities recommend several simple yet critical precautions, such as avoiding raw shellfish and always cooking seafood fully.
You should protect open wounds, use bandages, and avoid swimming in saltwater if you have cuts.
People are urged to prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw shellfish separate from cooked foods and washing their hands after handling.
Individuals with chronic illnesses - especially liver or kidney disease - are urged to be extra vigilant.
The CDC warns that the bacteria are adapting to modern environmental conditions.
Recent research suggests that Vibrio pathogens are now binding to microplastics and potentially combining with large blooms of sargassum - massive piles of seaweed that frequently wash up on Florida’s beaches.
This makes the bacteria harder to avoid, especially after storm surges push contaminated water further inland.
One of the individuals who contracted the infection, Peter Volpi Jr., described the experience as life-altering, per WFLA.
After swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, he said he endured "the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt," and was bedridden for months as he recovered.
Despite the alarming nature of the bacteria, state health officials have noted that infections are down compared to 2023. However, they caution that 2023's spike was heavily influenced by severe weather.
With climate change expected to increase ocean temperatures and the frequency of hurricanes, the long-term outlook remains concerning.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of infections from saltwater-based bacteria could rise from $2.6 billion in 1995 to over $6.1 billion by 2090.