- A Broward County resident in their 70s has become the fourth person in Florida to die from a Vibrio vulnificus infection in 2026.
- Florida health data shows 21 recorded cases of the waterborne bacteria this year, with earlier deaths reported in Bay, Palm Beach, and Marion counties.
- Vibrio vulnificus naturally thrives in warm coastal waters and is commonly contracted by eating raw shellfish or exposing open wounds to contaminated water.
- Often referred to as a flesh-eating bacteria, severe infections can cause rapid tissue destruction, amputation, or death within two days.
- Health officials advise thoroughly cooking oysters and keeping cuts or new piercings out of brackish and saltwater to lower infection risks.
IN FULL
