Overview

• The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the fifth death on Sept. 16, with 26 infections recorded this year and every patient hospitalized.
• State data indicate 85% of cases followed wound exposure to seawater, and 92% of patients had at least one underlying condition.
• At least two deaths were linked to eating raw oysters, and authorities caution high‑risk individuals against consuming raw or undercooked shellfish.
• Public guidance urges people with cuts to avoid brackish or salt water or to keep wounds covered, and to seek immediate care for skin infections after water exposure.
• Other Gulf and East Coast states have reported cases in 2025, including a fatal infection in Mississippi, as experts warn Vibrio’s range is expanding with warmer waters.