Deaths from the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus are rising along the southeastern US coast, with at least five fatalities reported in Florida, four in Louisiana, and one in North Carolina’s Outer Banks this year.
The bacteria flourish in warm seawater and can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a serious infection that rapidly damages surrounding tissue. Health officials report that Florida has recorded 16 cases this year. Seventeen cases have reported Louisiana, with seven and three cases also reported in North Carolina seven and Mississippi, respectively.
