Florida has reported five confirmed cases of infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as “the flesh-eating bacteria”, according to data from the state's Department of Health.
The authorities are concerned that infections are appearing earlier than usual, before the warmest period of summer.
The infections have been detected in the counties of Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee, Palm Beach, and St. Johns.
According to the health authorities themselves, “the number of cases has already surpassed that reported in the same period last year.”
A case that resulted 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: bruises appeared, along with intense pain, skin discoloration, and 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 the flesh-eating bacteria and how is it transmitted?
The Vibrio vulnificus naturally inhabits warm, brackish coastal 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 transmission 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 acid-reducing drugs.
Outside of Florida, Connecticut also recently confirmed a case in 2026; the affected individual survived after receiving medical attention.
A trend that is worsening
Most cases are reported between May and October. The fact that infections are appearing before this peak summer season is exactly what is raising special alerts this year.
Experts have noted that "the warming of coastal waters may be favoring the expansion of the bacteria into regions further north in the United States, where it was historically 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 of 82 cases and 19 deaths was reached, 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, promptly washing any injuries exposed to salt water, and refraining from consuming raw seafood.
Those who wish to check the status of the beaches can refer to the official program Florida Healthy Beaches, which monitors coastal water quality and publishes real-time alerts by county.
A scientific study documented an eightfold increase in Vibrio vulnificus wound infections on the east coast of the United States between 1988 and 2018, with the northern limit of cases shifting approximately 48 kilometers per year to the north, projecting that the bacteria could reach population centers in New York between 2041 and 2060.
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