Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills Four, Infects 11 Across Florida 2025

Florida health officials have reported four deaths and 11 confirmed cases this year from Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous bacterium often termed 'flesh-eating' due to its ability to cause severe tissue damage. The infections, confirmed in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties, have prompted warnings to avoid raw shellfish and to not enter coastal waters with open wounds. Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm, brackish coastal waters, which have become more hospitable due to rising ocean temperatures, contributing to increased cases in Florida, a state that led the U.S. with 82 infections and 19 deaths in 2024 following hurricane-related flooding. The bacteria infect through wounds exposed to seawater or by consuming contaminated seafood and can lead to symptoms ranging from skin blistering and discoloration to severe systemic illness requiring amputations or resulting in death. Experts note that while infections remain rare, the geographical range of the bacterium is expanding, highlighting the need for public awareness and caution in coastal areas. The Florida Department of Health has not yet identified the specific sources of the recent infections.