Overview
- The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed Thursday that nine people have been hospitalized with Vibrio vulnificus in 2026 and five have died, with all cases tied to open wounds exposed to seawater and underlying health conditions.
- Officials announced they will publish Vibrio case data weekly on the LDH Public Health Data Spotlight page to improve transparency and guide local warnings.
- Health agencies say Vibrio vulnificus is most common from May through October when water is warm and that infections can occur from seawater contact with cuts or from eating raw or undercooked shellfish.
- People with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia, weakened immune systems, or recent stomach surgery face the highest risk of severe illness including bloodstream infection, sepsis, or limb amputation.
- Public-health advice from LDH and the CDC is clear: avoid salt or brackish water with open wounds, cover wounds with waterproof dressings if exposure is possible, wash wounds with soap and water after contact, avoid raw oysters, and seek immediate care while telling providers about any water exposure.