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Teen fights flesh-eating bacteria he got while swimming at park with siblings
WRDW • • health
Key Points:
- A 17-year-old Florida boy, Joziah Thompson, was hospitalized for a week after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous flesh-eating bacteria, from swimming at Lion’s Park in Niceville.
- The infection rapidly worsened from a minor scratch to severe leg redness and pain, requiring emergency surgery and aggressive antibiotic treatment.
- Joziah, who has autism, was treated at Twin Cities Hospital and Studer Family Children’s Hospital before being discharged on June 10, but he remains at risk for further complications.
- His mother is advocating for increased public awareness and monitoring of Vibrio vulnificus levels in local waters to prevent similar cases, especially in vulnerable children.
- Vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida have caused 33 cases and 5 deaths in 2025, often linked to contact with coastal waters or consumption of raw shellfish.
