A fifth person has died in Florida after suffering from an infection with a deadly flesh-eating bacteria that lurks in warm coastal waters, health officials say.
The individual was between 50 and 54 years old and lived in Pinellas County, which is part of the Tampa metropolitan area.
They were diagnosed with Vibrio vulnificus, a pathogen in warm seawater that can enter the body through open wounds, such as cuts or scrapes, triggering a potentially life-threatening infection or amputation.
The fatality marked at least the 15th nationwide this year, after seven deaths were recorded in Louisiana, two in North Carolina and one in South Carolina.
It also marked at least the 55th case recorded in the US since January, with infections reported in at least seven states across the South and Northeast.
Florida has recorded five deaths and 23 cases of Vibrio vulnificus this year, among the highest reported totals in the US.
Along with contaminating warm surface saltwater (above 68F), Vibrio 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 infection.
V. vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters, such as Florida Gulf Coast beaches. In Florida, 23 people have been infected and five have died
Florida has experienced unusually warm conditions this year, with Fort Myers recording substantially more heat than its historical normal through September.
Although the disease remains rare, it is often deadly, and cases are rising. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say about 150 to 200 infections are recorded every year, but about one in five leads to a fatality.
Experts warn that warming oceans could lead to a spike in Vibrio infections, as seawater heats up earlier and remains warmer for longer – extending the window in which someone could be infected.
Health officials did not disclose the Pinellas victim’s name, exact age, exposure history or additional details.
So far this year, Florida has recorded deaths from the bacteria in Bay, Broward – where Fort Lauderdale is located – Marion, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties.
It has also recorded 23 infections from the disease across 14 counties, including two infections in Miami-Dade County and two in Broward County.
In Pinellas County, the fatality also marked the first case reported there this year. In 2024, the county recorded a record 15 infections from the bacteria and three deaths.
In 2025, Florida reported 33 cases and five deaths linked to Vibrio. The year before, the state registered 82 cases and 19 deaths linked to the infection.
Scientists are warning that Vibrio vulnificus cases have risen nationwide in recent years (stock image)
Nationwide, Louisiana has reported 19 cases and seven deaths linked to the disease.
Mississippi has reported three cases and no deaths, Texas four cases and no deaths, South Carolina three cases and one death, North Carolina two cases and two deaths, and Connecticut one case, according to local reports and state health departments.
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 cause the flesh to turn black, which may leave someone needing an amputation.
It can also spread into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication.
Older adults, those with compromised immune systems and those who consume raw or undercooked seafood are most at risk, health officials say.
To treat an infection, physicians may offer surgery to cut out infected tissue or prescribe medications to lower blood pressure, IVs and oxygen therapy.
Antibiotics can also be used to treat an infection with the bacteria.
The CDC map shows cases of V. vulnificus in 2019, when the US reported a total of 194 cases. The bacteria typically populates the waters off the Gulf Coast, but the map shows that it has slowly made its way northward
To slash the risk of an infection, health officials advise people to avoid swimming in warm ocean water if they have open wounds, cuts or scrapes.
They also recommend covering any wounds with waterproof bandages before entering the water, washing any cuts with soap and water after swimming, avoiding eating raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish and wearing gloves when handling raw seafood.
