Overview
- State health data show multiple Gulf Coast deaths this season, with Florida reporting 21 cases and four deaths and Louisiana reporting 17 cases and six deaths.
- Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring marine bacterium that can cause rapid, life-threatening infections that destroy skin and soft tissue and may lead to sepsis or amputation.
- Most infections follow eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, or when contaminated salt or brackish water enters an open wound.
- Health officials urge high-risk people, including those with liver disease or diabetes, to avoid raw shellfish, protect open wounds from coastal water, and seek immediate care for symptoms.
- Authorities warn the seasonal surge typically lasts through October and say storm-related flooding has historically triggered localized spikes in cases, so residents should take extra precautions after storms.