Five people have died in Louisiana from a deadly flesh-eating bacteria that lurks in warm coastal waters.
The patients all died after being infected with Vibrio vulnificus, which enters the body through open wounds and can trigger life-threatening infections and amputations.
All the patients were exposed to seawater before their infection and had underlying health conditions. No further details were revealed.
It takes the number of fatalities from the bacteria recorded this year to at least seven after two deaths were also recorded in Florida last week.
Nationwide, more than 30 infections with the pathogen have already been recorded this year, including 14 in Florida, seven in Mississippi and one each in Alabama and Connecticut.
Nine infections have been recorded in Louisiana alone, compared to seven cases and one death over the period last year.
‘Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers from May to October, when water temperatures are warmer,’ the health department said in a statement.
‘Infection can occur when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.’
Louisiana is sounding the alarm after a spike in flesh-eating bacteria cases linked to coastal waters, and five people have already lost their lives
Vibrio thrives in warm surface water above 68F (20C). It can also infest seafood such as oysters and then infect those that consume them.
From May to October, warm weather causes a surge in the population of the bacteria, raising the risk of an infection.
Warm weather has already struck the Gulf of Mexico coast this year, with temperatures in Florida surging above 82.2F (28C).
Health officials in Louisiana added: ‘Some species, including Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections.’
‘About one in five people with Vibrio vulnificus infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.’
Health officials are urging residents and tourists to take precautions. Anyone with an open wound should stay out of saltwater or brackish water.
If exposure is unavoidable, wounds should be covered with a waterproof bandage and washed thoroughly afterward.
Florida, another Gulf state more prone to Vibrio infections, has reported 14 cases and two deaths from Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Health.
All nine cases were linked to seawater-exposed wounds, and every patient had underlying health conditions that increased their risk of severe infection, state officials said
The latest fatality was a Marion County resident said to be 60 to 64, following an earlier death in Palm Beach County in a man aged 80 to 84.
Florida averages 133 vibriosis cases annually, with 41 to 48 of those caused by the flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus, leading to nine to 11 deaths each year. During severe hurricane seasons, those numbers often spike.
Nationally, the US reports an estimated 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus annually, with roughly half occurring in Gulf Coast states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Warning signs of an infection include skin redness or a rash that quickly becomes swollen or painful, as well as fluid-filled blisters, fever, pain and an altered mental state.
In severe cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause sepsis, a life-threatening complication that can kill within a day or two of becoming ill.
Older adults, those with compromised immune systems and those who consume raw or undercooked seafood are most at risk.
People can become infected with Vibrio vulnificus in two ways. The first is by eating raw or undercooked shellfish – particularly oysters – that contain the bacteria, leading to vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fever and chills.
The other is through open wounds coming into contact with the bacteria in warm seawater, brackish water or raw seafood drippings.
Joziah Thompson, 17, took a dip in seawater off Florida’s Northwest coast with a cut on his left leg. Two days later he was left moaning in pain by an infection
Shown above is red tissue around the area on his left leg that was infected
Louisiana and Florida have consistently seen the highest number of cases and deaths.
Health officials have warned that rising sea surface temperatures linked to climate change may be contributing to the increase, as Vibrio bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters.
Cases of vibrio generally remain stable in Louisiana every year. But 2025 was an anomaly.
Last year, Louisiana recorded at least 26 cases and five deaths – numbers that far exceeded the typical annual average.
The current year’s tally of nine cases and five deaths, while lower than 2025’s total, still outpaces the 10-year average and matches last year’s death toll.
Once Vibrio vulnificus enters the bloodstream, the infection can turn deadly within hours.
The bacteria release toxins that destroy tissue and trigger a dangerous immune overreaction, leading to septic shock and organ failure.
Vibrio vulnificus can trigger necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection that destroys skin, muscle, and tissue around a wound. The bacteria spread quickly and release toxins that kill tissue and allow the infection to enter the bloodstream.
What starts as a small wound can become painful, swollen, and red within hours. Large blisters may form, the skin may darken, and dead tissue can begin to break down.
Without immediate treatment, the infection can lead to septic shock and death in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
While the general mortality rate is 20 percent, for those with liver disease or other underlying conditions, the fatality rate can exceed 50 percent.
Treatment requires immediate medical action. Doctors typically prescribe a combination of antibiotics, including doxycycline and a cephalosporin.
In severe cases, dead tissue must be surgically removed and amputation of the affected limb is sometimes necessary to save the patient’s life.
The Louisiana Department of Health advises anyone with an open wound, including cuts, scrapes, burns or puncture wounds from fishing hooks, to avoid saltwater, brackish water and raw seafood entirely.
If exposure is unavoidable, wounds should be covered with a waterproof bandage and thoroughly washed with soap and water immediately after contact.
Health officials also warn against eating raw or undercooked oysters, particularly during warmer months when Vibrio bacteria are most abundant.
People with liver disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems are advised to avoid raw shellfish entirely.
