Health alert issued for Gulf Coast Vibrio cases

Health officials report rising Vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida and Louisiana with multiple deaths.

Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases Rise in Gulf Coast States

Eight deaths have been reported in Florida this year due to Vibrio vulnificus infections, with 13 total cases across 11 counties. Louisiana has 17 infections and four deaths so far in 2025. The United States averages 150 to 200 infections annually, and most occur along the Gulf Coast. Vibrio vulnificus lives in warm coastal waters and can enter the body through open wounds or through contaminated shellfish. Health officials say warmer waters and plankton blooms boost Vibrio levels, and heavy rainfall and flooding can help spread the bacteria.

Diagnoses are made with lab tests from blood, wound, or stool samples. For mild infections, fluids help; for severe infections, antibiotics and sometimes surgery are needed. Those at highest risk include older adults, people with immune suppression, and individuals with chronic liver disease. Experts remind people not to swim with open wounds in coastal waters and to avoid raw shellfish, especially if immune system or liver disease is a concern.

This rise tests how health officials balance caution with letting coastal areas stay welcoming. Climate-driven warming of Gulf waters is not new, but it adds urgency to public health messaging. The story highlights the need for clear, practical guidance that reaches communities, tourist destinations, and seafood workers without provoking panic.

Policy and practice should focus on stronger surveillance, better seafood safety standards, and timely updates for the public. The risk is not just illness but potential economic strain on beaches and shellfish trades if warnings are seen as overblown. Clear, accessible advice can protect vulnerable people while keeping coastal life functional.

Highlights

Health officials will keep updating the public as cases evolve.