Florida Sees Surge of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria revealed in the 13184x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. (Credit: Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/Colorized by James Gathany. )

Cases of flesh-eating bacteria in Florida have surged in recent weeks following the impact Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the state, according to data from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).

Concretely, Florida has documented 70 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2024, a bacterial infection known for its potential severity. Out of these cases, 11 have resulted in deaths. Notably, 37 of the total cases have been detected since mid-September, a sharp increase in infections during the past weeks.