Vibrio season ramping up as 5 Floridians struck by horrific infection

Key Points:

• Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous "flesh-eating" bacterium found in warm, brackish waters, is entering its most active season in Florida from June to September, with 2026 cases already surpassing those recorded by this time last year.
• The infection, which can be contracted through contaminated water or raw shellfish, poses a higher risk to individuals with compromised immune systems, diabetes, kidney, or liver diseases, and can cause severe tissue damage and death in about 20% of U.S. cases.
• Florida has seen spikes in Vibrio vulnificus infections during active hurricane years, with record cases in 2022 and 2024 linked to flooding and storm surges; climate change and rising ocean temperatures are expected to increase the bacterium’s prevalence.
• Prevention measures include avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish, cooking seafood thoroughly, preventing cross-contamination of food, and protecting open wounds from exposure to warm salt or brackish water by wearing gloves when handling raw seafood.
• Health officials and experts warn that the geographic range of Vibrio vulnificus is expanding due to climate change, with infections now reported beyond Florida and Louisiana, including a case in Cape Cod in 2025.