Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacteria Spreads Across Florida, Causing Multiple Illnesses and Fatalities
A dangerous flesh-eating bacterium has sickened at least seven people and claimed the lives of four in Florida, with cases reported in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. John’s counties, according to health officials and CBS News.
Experts warn that the risk of infection from this aggressive bacteria increases during the summer months, raising concerns as more residents fall ill. Since 2016, Florida has recorded 448 cases linked to this bacteria, resulting in 100 deaths statewide. Additional infections have been confirmed in other counties, including Santa Rosa and Manatee.
Health authorities urge caution and awareness to prevent further spread of this life-threatening pathogen.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the dangerous bacterium Vibrio vulnificus can be contracted through exposure to contaminated water or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, which can harbor the bacteria in concentrated amounts.
Typically, infection causes milder gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps. However, Vibrio vulnificus thrives in saltwater and brackish water—a mix of salt and fresh water—making coastal areas especially risky.
The consequences become far more severe if the bacteria enter the bloodstream or infect an open wound. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, painful skin blisters, and necrotizing fasciitis—commonly known as flesh-eating disease. In extreme cases, doctors may have to amputate limbs to stop the spread of infected, dead tissue.
Florida’s Health Department reports that infections are currently lower than last year, but the impact of Hurricane Helene and the resulting flooding likely increased exposure to contaminated water. A similar surge followed Hurricane Ian in 2022, according to PEOPLE magazine.
The Florida Health Department has issued special warnings for vulnerable groups. Those with fresh cuts, scrapes, tattoos, or new piercings are particularly at risk. People with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions such as liver or kidney disease are urged to protect themselves by wearing proper footwear to avoid injuries from rocks and shells at the beach.
The CDC recommends eating only cooked seafood, preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked shellfish, and avoiding contact between warm water and open wounds to reduce infection risk.
Peter Volpi Jr., who contracted the infection after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, described his ordeal to WFLA as “the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt,” leaving him bedridden for months — a stark reminder of how serious this threat can be.