A “flesh-eating” bacteria, actually more accurately described as necrotizing fasciitis, has claimed its fifth victim in Florida this year. The latest fatality occurred in Bay County, marking the second death from the bacteria in the area.
Vibrio vulnificus, the variant responsible for the high mortality rate, is a type of vibriosis that thrives in warm brackish seawater. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 80,000 yearly cases of vibriosis in the US, with most infections leading to mild gastroenteritis.
The bacteria can cause severe symptoms, including wound and bloodstream infections, which have a mortality rate of one in five people infected. Those with pre-existing conditions or recent surgeries are at highest risk.
Most cases of vibrio vulnificus are contracted through eating contaminated seafood or entering water with an open wound. Other factors, such as sanitary sewer overflows, leaky septic tanks, and heavy rains, can also contribute to higher concentrations of the bacteria.
Climate change has been linked to the bacteria becoming more prevalent in colder climates, with cases found as far north as New York and Connecticut. The FDOH reports that vibrio vulnificus thrives in water temperatures between 68 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: https://eu.newsherald.com/story/news/local/2025/08/12/second-person-dies-in-bay-county-this-year-from-vibrio-vulnificus/85615601007