A Palm Beach County resident has died from Vibrio vulnificus, marking Florida's first fatal case of the potentially deadly "flesh-eating" bacteria in 2026 as rising summer temperatures bring more people into the state's coastal waters.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death, involving an adult between 80 and 84 years old. No additional details about the individual were immediately available.
The death comes as health officials warn that Vibrio vulnificus infections typically increase between May and October, when warmer coastal waters and peak beach season create more opportunities for exposure.
Florida reported 33 cases and five deaths in 2025. The state recorded 82 cases and 19 deaths in 2024, when health officials linked an unusual increase in infections in several countries to the effects of Hurricane Helene.
A Beach Cut Can Become a Serious Infection
Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm, brackish seawater. People can become infected after an open wound or broken skin comes into contact with contaminated coastal water.
Others may become sick after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
While healthy people may experience relatively mild illness, the infection can become severe when the bacteria enter the bloodstream. Severe cases can lead to sepsis, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.
According to health authorities, bloodstream infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus are fatal about 50% of the time. The infection can progress rapidly, with some patients becoming critically ill within a short period.
The bacterium is also associated with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare condition often referred to in media reports as "flesh-eating disease." Vibrio vulnificus is one of several bacteria that can cause the condition.
Warning Signs May Depend on How You Were Exposed
People who ingest the bacteria through contaminated seafood may initially develop watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills.
An infection that enters through a wound can cause redness, pain, swelling and warmth around the affected area. The skin may change color, blister, or begin to break down, and fluid may drain from the wound.
A bloodstream infection can cause fever and chills, which may progress to dangerously low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.
Because Vibrio vulnificus infections can worsen quickly, health officials emphasize the importance of seeking medical care promptly when concerning symptoms develop after eating raw seafood or exposing an open wound to coastal water.
The infection can be diagnosed through stool, wound, or blood cultures. Health care providers may need to alert laboratories when Vibrio vulnificus is suspected so specialized testing procedures can be used.
Simple Steps Can Lower the Risk
The risk of severe illness is higher among people with weakened immune systems and certain underlying medical conditions, particularly chronic liver disease.
Health authorities also warn that people with kidney disease or other conditions that compromise immunity should take extra precautions around coastal waters and raw shellfish.
For these groups, even a seemingly minor wound exposed to warm saltwater or brackish water can potentially lead to a serious infection.
The Florida Department of Health advises people to avoid eating raw oysters and other raw shellfish and to cook them thoroughly. People should also prevent cross-contamination between raw seafood and cooked food and wear gloves when handling raw shellfish.
Beachgoers with cuts, scrapes, or other open wounds should avoid exposing them to warm saltwater or brackish water. Those at higher risk of severe infection should consider wearing protective footwear to reduce the chance of cuts from rocks and shells.
