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Florida Logs Four Deaths and Eleven Cases of Vibrio Vulnificus in 2025

Warming coastal waters are fueling the spread of the bacterium that experts say poses a serious threat to people with open wounds or chronic health conditions.

Image
Image: Giovanni Cancemi (Shutterstock)
A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria revealed in the 13184x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005, image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany.

Overview

  • Florida Department of Health reports 11 confirmed Vibrio vulnificus infections this year with four fatalities in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough and St. Johns counties.
  • Record flooding after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 drove a surge to 82 cases and 19 deaths, highlighting the impact of extreme weather on bacterial outbreaks.
  • Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm, brackish seawater and infects individuals through open wounds or by ingesting raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters.
  • Researchers warn that rising sea temperatures are enabling the bacterium’s northward expansion along the U.S. East Coast, with cases documented as far north as Connecticut and New York.
  • Health authorities advise prompt wound cleaning, immediate medical evaluation for suspected infections, thorough cooking of seafood and avoidance of coastal water exposure for those at high risk.