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Florida Reports Four Deaths and 11 Infections From Flesh-Eating Vibrio Bacterium

Warming coastal waters driven by climate change fuel ongoing infection risks, with health officials urging swift antibiotic treatment coupled with enhanced wound protection

Vibrio Vulnificus bacteria.
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Overview

  • Florida’s Department of Health reports 11 Vibrio vulnificus infections and four fatalities so far in 2025 across Bay, Broward, Hillsborough and St. Johns counties.
  • The naturally occurring bacterium thrives in warm coastal and brackish waters and can infect skin through open wounds or via raw shellfish consumption.
  • Infections that enter the bloodstream carry a fatality rate of up to 50 percent and often require immediate antibiotic therapy.
  • A 2024 surge to 82 cases and 19 deaths followed Hurricanes Milton and Helene, highlighting how storm-driven saltwater intrusion elevates exposure.
  • Experts warn that climate change will extend hurricane seasons and raise sea temperatures, potentially driving future infections higher and increasing associated costs.