Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters

Key Points:

• A fourth person in Florida, aged 75-79 from Broward County, has died from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium linked to raw or undercooked oysters, according to the Florida Department of Health.
• Florida has reported 21 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, with notable increases in cases and deaths in 2022 and 2024, partially attributed to hurricane impacts causing standing or floodwaters that elevate exposure risks.
• Vibrio vulnificus is found in warm, brackish seawater and can infect individuals through contaminated oysters or open wounds exposed to contaminated water, with bloodstream infections being fatal about 50% of the time.
• People with weakened immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions are significantly more susceptible to severe infections, which can cause septic shock, blistering skin lesions, and may require amputation in extreme cases.
• Other Gulf Coast states have also reported cases and deaths: Louisiana with 15 cases and six deaths in 2026, Texas averaging 33 cases annually, and Mississippi reporting three cases as of August.