ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A rare but dangerous flesh-eating bacterial infection called Vibrio vulnificus has claimed the life of a St. Johns County resident this year.
The Florida Department of Health reports that three other Florida residents have died from the bacteria in 2025, with a total of 11 infections statewide.
While Vibrio vulnificus infections are uncommon, health officials warn that warmer temperatures and coastal waters increase the risk of contracting the bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur annually in the United States. Dr. Shalika Katugaha, medical director of infectious disease at Baptist Health, said that number shows the infection is still uncommon.
“As a physician, we’d see very few that come to us,” Katugaha said.
Vibrio vulnificus thrives in certain coastal waters, particularly between May and October, when water temperatures rise. The bacteria can be contracted by eating undercooked or raw shellfish such as oysters, mussels, or clams.
“These types of filter shellfish. They take in a lot of the water. They filter the water so the bacteria can stay in them,” Katugaha explained.
The infection can also enter the body through cuts or wounds exposed to brackish or salt water.
“You’re at increased risk for getting it that way, especially at risk if you’re in an at-risk population. So you’re immunocompromised in some way. You have liver disease, diabetes, you’re on medications that suppress your immune system,” she said.
Early symptoms after eating contaminated seafood include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills. If the infection enters through a wound, signs include redness, swelling, and pain.
Katugaha urges anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
“We can manage this with antibiotics, but the treatment, or the algorithm, includes early detection and aggressive treatment, so you really have to be on top of it,” she said.
