Panama City, FL — Health officials say a 78-year-old man who died on Aug. 4 at a Bay County hospital had contracted vibrio vulnificus, marking the second local death tied to the bacteria this year.
According to the Panama City News Herald, the man had been visiting St. George Island in Franklin County before falling ill. The case is also Florida’s fifth vibrio-related death in 2025.
What is Vibrio Vulnificus?
Often mislabeled as “flesh-eating” bacteria, vibrio vulnificus does not actually consume human tissue. Instead, it can cause necrotizing fasciitis — a severe infection in which flesh around a wound dies, giving the appearance of a flesh-eating process.
The bacteria thrives in warm, brackish seawater, with cases typically occurring between May and October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 80,000 vibriosis cases annually in the U.S., with 52,000 linked to eating contaminated seafood.
“Vibrio vulnificus is the strain with the highest mortality rate,” the Florida Department of Health notes. “It kills roughly one in five people it infects.”
Symptoms and Risks
While most vibrio infections cause mild gastroenteritis, wound and bloodstream infections can be life-threatening. Those most at risk include:
- People with pre-existing health conditions or recent surgeries
- Individuals with open wounds exposed to contaminated water
- Anyone who handles raw seafood without proper protection
Case Numbers in 2025
So far this year, 16 people have contracted vibrio vulnificus across Florida. In Northwest Florida, there has been:
- 1 case in Okaloosa County
- 1 case in Walton County
- 2 cases in Escambia County
- 2 cases (including both deaths) in Bay County
The Aug. 4 incident is the second fatal vibrio case in Bay County for 2025.
How People Get Infected
Most infections occur from:
- Eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters
- Entering warm salt or brackish water with an open wound
- Handling raw seafood with cuts or sores on the skin
Environmental factors like sanitary sewer overflows, leaky septic tanks, heavy rains, and disturbed underwater sediment can increase bacterial concentrations.
Climate Change Concerns
Experts warn that rising ocean surface temperatures may allow vibrio vulnificus to spread into colder coastal regions. Cases have already been detected as far north as New York and Connecticut.
The FDOH says the bacteria thrives in water temperatures between 68°F and 95°F, but can survive in water as warm as 105°F.
What are your thoughts on the rising risk of vibrio infections? Share your opinion in the comments.
