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7mo ago

Florida Records Four Vibrio vulnificus Deaths This Year as Infections Drop

Investigators are tracing infection sources, with officials stressing that warming coastal waters fuel annual Vibrio spikes

Image: Giovanni Cancemi (Shutterstock)
Image
A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria revealed in the 13184x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005, image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany.
A University of Maryland graduate student shows frozen cultures of Vibrio vulnificus.

Overview

  • The Florida Department of Health has confirmed 11 Vibrio vulnificus infections so far in 2025, resulting in four fatalities.
  • The latest deaths occurred in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough and St. Johns counties, marking the first Vibrio-linked fatalities this year.
  • This year’s case count is significantly lower than 2024’s record 82 infections and 19 deaths that followed hurricanes Helene and Milton.
  • Vibrio vulnificus commonly infects individuals through open wounds exposed to warm, brackish water or through ingestion of raw or undercooked shellfish.
  • Health officials emphasize prompt wound care and antibiotic treatment, and they urge at-risk individuals to avoid warm coastal waters and uncooked seafood.