Overview

• Louisiana reports 17 infections and four fatalities this year, more than double its decade average of seven cases and one death.
• Florida has recorded 13 Vibrio vulnificus infections and four fatalities as of late July, a level that state officials say aligns with seasonal expectations.
• The bacterium enters through open skin wounds or raw shellfish and can cause severe tissue loss or septicemia within days if untreated.
• Individuals with liver disease, diabetes or other chronic conditions face the highest risk of death, prompting health departments to warn against coastal water contact and raw oysters.
• Public health experts link the outbreak to climate-driven warming and more frequent storms that expand brackish water zones where the bacteria thrive.