Florida Reports 4th Vibrio Death in 2026 as State Logs 21 Cases

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

Florida added a fourth Vibrio vulnificus death to its 2026 tally, with the latest victim a Broward County resident aged 75 to 79.
State health officials say most infections come from eating raw or undercooked oysters, though exposure also occurs when open wounds contact warm, brackish or floodwater-contaminated seawater.
Florida has reported 21 cases this year; bloodstream infections are fatal about 50% of the time and hit people with weakened immune systems far harder.
The state recorded 82 cases and 19 deaths in 2024 and 74 cases with 17 deaths in 2022, with officials linking past spikes partly to hurricane-driven flooding and standing water.
Across the Gulf Coast, Louisiana had 15 cases and six deaths by Sept. 9, while Texas averages 33 cases a year and Mississippi had reported three cases by August.