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Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A fourth person in Florida, aged 75-79 from Broward County, has died from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium often linked to raw or undercooked oysters, according to the Florida Department of Health.
- Florida has reported 21 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, with previous years like 2022 and 2024 seeing high numbers of cases and deaths, partly due to impacts from hurricanes Helene and Ian.
- The bacterium is naturally found in warm, brackish seawater and can infect individuals through contaminated oysters or open wounds exposed to contaminated water, with bloodstream infections having a fatality rate of about 50%.
- People with weakened immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions are significantly more vulnerable to severe infections, which can cause symptoms such as septic shock, blistering skin lesions, and may require amputation in severe cases.
- Other Gulf Coast states have also reported cases and deaths in 2026, including Louisiana (15 cases, 6 deaths), Texas (average 33 cases annually), and Mississippi (3 cases as of August).
