Health Officials Report More Cases of Flesh-Eating Beach Bacteria

Health officials have reported that cases of a rare type of flesh-eating bacteria found in warm seawater are currently increasing in Florida and Louisiana.

In 2026 so far, state officials say that 15 cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported in Florida as of Aug. 13, and 10 cases have been reported in Louisiana as of Aug. 12.

Seven people have died from the bacterial infection this year, with two deaths being reported in Florida and five in Louisiana. In the most recent reports posted by both states, no deaths have been reported since the last updates.

Vibrio vulnificus can enter the body through unhealed cuts and scrapes, recent piercings and tattoos, and recent surgical incisions. If a person has such a wound, they are advised to cover it with a waterproof bandage if there’s a chance of exposure, and stay out of saltwater or brackish water, according to officials. Brackish water refers to a mixture of salt and fresh water such as when rivers meet the ocean.

If you do come in contact with coastal waters or raw seafood, immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised.

People are advised to see a doctor if they start to develop symptoms such as fever, chills, and hot red areas on the skin that start to turn dark and blister, officials have said.

Dr. Pete Croughan, an official with the Louisiana Department of Health, said in a social media video released earlier this month that “every patient” who was infected with Vibrio vulnificus in the state this year was hospitalized. The patients shared similar characteristics, he said: They had open skin that was exposed to salt water.

“If you got a cut, scrape, or wound, avoid the water until its healed,” Croughan said.

People can also become infected by eating seafood, especially raw oysters. Health officials say not to eat raw or undercooked oysters or other seafood, and do not let raw seafood, its drippings, or its juices contaminate other foods.

Media outlets have described Vibrio vulnificus as a “flesh-eating bacteria” because it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, or when “flesh around an open wound dies,” the CDC says on its website.

“Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation,” the agency said. “About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.”

Individuals who are most susceptible to contracting the infection include people with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, as well as people receiving immune system-suppressing treatment, taking medication to decrease stomach acidity, or who have had recent stomach surgeries, the CDC says.

Treatment includes antibiotics or surgery—including amputation—to remove infected or dead tissue, the agency says.

Earlier this month, state health officials in Mississippi issued an advisory over the bacteria. As of Aug. 10, three Vibrio vulnificus cases have been reported in the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.