Mississippi Fisherman, 50, Contracts Flesh-Eating Vibrio After Horsefly Bite
Updated
Updated · NOLA.com · Jul 2
Mississippi Fisherman, 50, Contracts Flesh-Eating Vibrio After Horsefly Bite
3 articles · Updated · NOLA.com · Jul 2
Summary
Steve Wilson, 50, developed a severe Vibrio vulnificus infection after a Mississippi fishing trip, with doctors suspecting the bacteria entered through a tiny horsefly bite and began destroying tissue in his foot and leg.
By the end of a 45-minute drive to Slidell Memorial Hospital, Wilson had a 103.6-degree fever and sepsis; after surgery and antibiotics, his leg showed some improvement by Tuesday, though he remained in intensive care.
Amanda Wilson, a nurse, said the couple had checked for cuts, avoided Gulf swimming and moved upriver before entering the water, underscoring how even a nearly unnoticed wound may be enough for infection.
Vibrio vulnificus is rare but severe, killing about 1 in 5 people with serious infection, sometimes within 48 hours, and Gulf Coast cases typically peak from May through October as waters warm.
Mississippi has reported 7 Vibrio cases so far in 2026, including 1 Vibrio vulnificus case; Alabama has logged 12 cases with 1 death, and Louisiana had 5 Vibrio vulnificus cases and 2 deaths as of July 1.