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

A fourth person in Florida has died after contracting flesh-eating bacteria commonly linked to consuming raw or undercooked oysters, health officials said.

The death was included Thursday in the Florida Department of Health’s updated fatality count for the deadly flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus.

The individual was from Broward County and between the ages of 75 and 79, WSFA reported. It remains unclear exactly how the person contracted the infection.

Previous deaths were attributed to residents of Bay, Palm Beach and Marion counties, according to the state’s health department.

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“Most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters,” the Florida Department of Health said.

According to the department’s website, Florida has reported 21 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026.

In the last 10 years, 2022 and 2024 reported some of the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the region. Florida recorded 19 deaths and 82 cases in 2024, while 2022 saw 17 deaths and 74 cases.

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Officials said the unusual increase stemmed from certain counties experiencing impacts from hurricanes Helene and Ian. Severe weather events that cause standing or floodwaters pose a risk of exposure to the bacteria, officials said.

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm, brackish seawater.

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Exposure can occur when a person eats oysters contaminated with the bacteria or enters contaminated water with an open wound.

Health officials said bloodstream infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus are fatal about 50% of the time.

While healthy individuals typically develop a mild illness, Vibrio vulnificus infections can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.

“A recent study showed that people with these pre-existing medical conditions were 80 times more likely to develop Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections than healthy people,” Florida health officials said.

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Severe infections can cause symptoms including fever, chills, decreased blood pressure, also known as septic shock, and blistering skin lesions. In some cases, wound infections can lead to tissue damage requiring amputation.

Elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, Louisiana has reported 15 cases and six deaths this year as of Sept. 9, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Fourteen of the cases were attributed to wound or seawater exposure.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says Texas typically sees an average of 33 cases per year.

Mississippi reported three cases as of August, according to the state’s health department.