Florida logged 5 Vibrio vulnificus cases by late April, already above the 3 reported by the same point in 2025 as the June-September peak season approaches.
Miami-Dade recorded the latest known infection in the second half of April, joining cases in Hillsborough, Lee, Palm Beach and St. Johns counties; the source of that case was not immediately known.
Experts tie the bacterium to warm brackish water and say climate change is likely expanding its range, while the CDC reports more than 150 U.S. infections a year and about 20% are fatal.
Florida's worst years have followed major storms: the state confirmed a record 82 cases in 2024 and 74 in 2022, with 36 deaths across those two hurricane-hit years.
Health officials say most infections come from raw or undercooked shellfish, but wound exposure in salt or brackish water can turn rapidly life-threatening, especially for people with liver disease, diabetes or weakened immune systems.
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Record Vibrio vulnificus Cases in Florida: Climate-Driven Surge, Hurricane Links, and the Future of Coastal Health
Overview
Vibrio vulnificus is a dangerous pathogen found in marine and coastal waters, posing a serious health risk through both foodborne and waterborne transmission. People can contract infections by eating raw or undercooked shellfish or by exposing open wounds, tattoos, or piercings to coastal waters. These infections can cause severe and life-threatening illness, with symptoms like fever, chills, septic shock, and blistering skin lesions. The fatality rate is high—about 50 percent for bloodstream infections and 1 in 5 overall. As Florida faces rising cases, especially after hurricanes, public health officials urge caution and awareness.