Health officials in Louisiana are warning beachgoers to take precautions following a surge in infections caused by the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, which thrives in coastal waters. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed nine cases this year, with all patients hospitalized and five fatalities reported. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous decade's average of seven cases and one death during the same period.

Vibrio bacteria flourish in seawater and the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons. Most infections occur between May and October, predominantly in Gulf Coast states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies Vibrio vulnificus as the most deadly strain.

Officials advise seeking immediate medical care if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm, or discolored.

One of the recent victims, 77-year-old Basil Kennedy, contracted the infection after scraping his leg on a boat trailer before entering the water; he died three days later.

Neighboring Florida has also seen an increase, reporting 14 cases and two deaths so far this year, compared to 33 cases and five deaths in all of 2025.

A 2023 study highlighted that the northernmost cases of Vibrio infections have been shifting approximately 30 miles annually, raising concerns that infections could eventually reach population centers near New York.

Sources