FILE – Paul Gulig, University of Florida Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, discusses the flesh-eating bacteria in Florida waters following Hurricane Ian.
BATON ROUGE, La. — At least 5 people from Louisiana have died this year after being infected by the flesh-eating bacterium known as Vibrio vulnificus, according to a recent announcement from the Louisiana Health Department. Nine Louisiana residents have been infected by the bacteria in 2026 and all were hospitalized.
State health officials are urging people to be careful when swimming in coastal waters.
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Under a high magnification of 13184X, this digitally-colorized scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image depicts a grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria.
(Janice Haney Carr / CDC / FOX Weather)
Over the last 10 years, Louisiana has averaged just one death from flesh-eating bacteria at this point in the year, according to the state health department.
The specifics and locations of each case were not released, but officials said all nine patients this year were exposed to seawater and had underlying conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Vibrio bacteria live in warm, coastal waters and infections can cause a number of symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, fever, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.
FILE – A school of fish swim in Texas wetlands in the South Padre Island Nature Center, an example of brackish water.
((photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
While the CDC estimates that some 80,000 cases of vibriosis happen across the country each year, some Vibrio species, like Vibrio vulnificus, can cause a severe flesh-destroying infection and the department said roughly one in five people with this kind of infection die.
Health officials say that the bacteria can enter the body through an open wound when swimming in saltwater or brackish water.
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FILE – Shucked oyster.
(Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle / FOX Weather)
People can also become infected by eating contaminated, raw shellfish — in which case, no open wound is required.
Louisiana officials said the bacteria are typically found in warmer coastal waters from May to October.
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Those most at risk of serious complications are those who are immunocompromised, including people with liver disease, cancer, HIV and the blood disorder thalassemia.
Other groups also most in danger of developing complications from infections include people with diabetes, those taking medicine that reduces stomach acid and people who have recently undergone stomach surgery.
Flesh Eating disease and life threatening Bacteria as flesh-eating bactrial infection outbreak of a rare Necrotizing Fasciitis infecting the skin and flesh as a deadly illness.
(wildpixel / Getty Images)
According to health officials, signs of infection include fever, redness and swelling around an open wound after swimming, as well as low blood pressure.
State health authorities said people can reduce their risk by covering open wounds with a waterproof bandage and washing wounds with soap and water.
Officials advised people with open wounds to stay out of coastal waters altogether.
When handling seafood, best practices include keeping raw food separate from cooked food, cooking seafood thoroughly and wearing gloves when handling raw fish and washing your hands afterward.
This comes after the state recently released a new public health disease tracker that includes Vibrio vulnificus cases.
One person died from a Vibrio infection in Palm Beach County, Florida, earlier this year.
