
Florida records fourth Vibrio vulnificus death in Broward County
A fourth Florida resident has died from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium often called 'flesh-eating' bacteria, according to the Florida Department of Health. The latest fatality involves a person aged 75 to 79 in Broward County. The state has confirmed 21 cases of the infection in 2026. While most people contract the disease by eating raw or undercooked oysters, exposure can also occur through open wounds in contaminated water. Health officials warn that bloodstream infections are fatal approximately 50% of the time, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems.













