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Florida has reported five confirmed cases of infection by Vibrio vulnificus, the bacteria commonly known as “flesh-eater”, according to data from the state’s Department of Health.
The authorities are concerned that infections are appearing earlier than usual, ahead of the warmest part of summer.
Infections have been detected in the counties of Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee, Palm Beach, and St. Johns.
According to health authorities themselves, “the number of cases has already surpassed that reported during the same period last year.”
A case that ended in amputation
One of the most serious incidents this year involved a 74-year-old resident of St. Johns County who had a wound on his right leg and briefly swam in the waters off the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Two days later, the injury worsened rapidly: bruising, intense pain, and discoloration appeared on the skin, along with swelling in one of his arms.
On the third day, he went to the emergency room, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove dead and infected tissue.
Although the patient survived, the outcome was devastating: according to the report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, "it was necessary to amputate his leg above the knee to save his life," in addition to performing extensive skin grafts on the affected arm.
What is flesh-eating bacteria and how is it transmitted?
Vibrio vulnificus naturally inhabits warm coastal and brackish waters and is not transmitted from person to person.
It can enter the body through open wounds, recent tattoos, or skin piercings exposed to contaminated water, although the main route of infection is the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters.
Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, redness, swelling, and skin lesions with blisters, and they typically appear within 24 hours after contact with the bacteria.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "approximately one in five infected individuals dies, and some victims pass away just one or two days after the first symptoms appear."
Who is at greater risk?
Although anyone can get infected, the most vulnerable groups are those suffering from liver diseases, diabetes, cancer, HIV, or thalassemia, as well as those taking immunosuppressive medications or those used to reduce stomach acidity.
Outside of Florida, Connecticut also recently confirmed a case in 2026; the affected individual survived after receiving medical attention.
A worsening trend
Most cases are reported between May and October. The fact that infections are appearing before that summer peak is precisely what is raising special alerts this year.
Experts have noted that "the warming of coastal waters could be facilitating the expansion of the bacteria into regions further north in the United States, where it has historically been less common."
The recent history in Florida is alarming: in 2023, there were 46 cases and 11 deaths; in 2025, 33 cases and five deaths across 16 counties; and in 2024, a historic record was reached with 82 cases and 19 deaths, a figure linked to the impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
How to protect yourself and where to check alerts?
Authorities recommend avoiding entering the sea with open wounds, immediately rinsing any injuries exposed to salt water, and refraining from consuming raw seafood.
Those who wish to check the status of the beaches can consult the official program Florida Healthy Beaches, which monitors coastal water quality and publishes county alerts in real-time.
A scientific study documented an eightfold increase in Vibrio vulnificus wound infections along the east coast of the United States between 1988 and 2018, with the northern limit of cases shifting approximately 48 kilometers north each year, projecting that the bacteria could reach population centers in New York between 2041 and 2060.
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