Fourth person dead in Florida from ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria linked to eating raw oysters

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A fourth person has died in Florida this year from an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacterium commonly associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.

The latest fatality was a Broward County resident between 75 and 79 years old, according to Florida Department of Health data last updated September 10. The state has recorded 21 Vibrio vulnificus infections in 2026, including previous fatalities in Bay, Palm Beach and Marion counties.

It remains unclear how the latest victim contracted the infection. However, most people develop vibriosis after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The Independent has contacted the Florida DOH for comment.

Vibrio vulnificus occurs naturally in warm coastal and brackish waters. People can also become infected when an open wound comes into contact with contaminated water. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts, scrapes or other breaks in the skin, putting swimmers, boaters and people who work around coastal water at risk, particularly if they have an open wound. Recent tattoos or piercings can also provide an entry point for the bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vibrio is more prevalent in warmer water, which is one reason infections tend to increase during the warmer months.

Oysters can pose a particular risk because they filter large amounts of seawater as they feed, allowing bacteria such as Vibrio to accumulate inside the shellfish. A contaminated oyster can look, smell and taste normal, meaning consumers cannot tell whether one contains the bacteria.

Cooking oysters thoroughly can kill the bacteria. Health officials also advise people at higher risk of severe Vibrio infection to avoid raw or undercooked shellfish.

Symptoms depend on how the infection occurs. People who ingest the bacteria can develop symptoms resembling food poisoning, including watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.

People who develop a wound infection may experience fever, swelling and discharge around the affected area. More serious bloodstream infections can cause fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

Vibrio vulnificus is sometimes called a “flesh-eating bacteria” because severe wound infections can destroy tissue around the site where the bacteria entered the body. In the most serious cases, patients may require surgery to remove infected or dead tissue, including amputation.

The CDC says Vibrio vulnificus infections can be treated with antibiotics, but the illness can progress rapidly. Some people can die within a day or two after symptoms begin.