I’m sure you’ve seen the many memes about Florida and its quirks that circulate on social media: the steamy weather, the gators, the hot pavement, the mercurial weather … the list goes on. Lately, another danger has been stealing the headlines: flesh-eating bacteria.
As of press time for this publication, Vibrio vulnificus has caused four fatalities in Florida. The fatal cases occurred in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm salt water and brackish water. People become infected when they eat infected shellfish, swallow seawater, or wade into affected water with an open wound.
While infections from this type of bacterium are rare, they can become deadly when they do happen. Of course, when headlines do what they so often do — hype of the fear — it can be difficult to keep the risk level in perspective.
Florida DOH records from the past three years show there were 17 deaths from Vibrio vulnificus in 2022, 11 deaths in 2023, and 19 in 2024. (The records note that elevated numbers for 2024 were a result of the impacts of Hurricane Helene.)
So, while any occurrence is unfortunate, this year’s cases aren’t more than normal.
Let’s make the headlines less terrifying and talk about how you can protect yourself.
- Don’t eat raw oysters or shellfish.
- Avoid exposing open wounds or broken skin to warm salt water or brackish water.
- Wear protective clothing (gloves/shoes) when harvesting or handling shellfish.
- Watch for fever, chills, nausea, or rashes on the skin and seek medical attention immediately if you suspect exposure.
Sometimes the best way to dispel fear is to arm yourself with the facts and take precautions.