All articles tagged with #florida health
Florida has confirmed 190 locally acquired dengue cases, with Hillsborough County accounting for 170. Three counties declared states of emergency to expedite mosquito control, while experts warn that underreporting and climate change may be driving the unprecedented surge.
Florida has recorded five deaths from Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, including a new fatality in Pinellas County. The state reports 23 total cases, matching last year’s death toll but significantly lower than 2024. Health officials warn that the bacteria, which thrives in warm coastal waters, carries a 50% fatality rate if it enters the bloodstream, particularly for those with chronic illnesses.
Genevieve Gallagher, who nearly lost much of her leg to Vibrio vulnificus after swimming with a cut, warns others not to swim with open wounds (or shave the night before entering the water), since Vibrio infections can be deadly and Florida is seeing rising case numbers and fatalities.
Florida has logged 14 cases of Vibrio vulnificus this year, including a child in Brevard County; doctors warn that while the flesh-eating bacteria is rare, it can rapidly injure tissue (necrotizing fasciitis) after an open wound in warm saltwater or brackish water or from undercooked shellfish, with higher risk for people with weakened immunity; a survivor recounts a 2025 infection that cost her a leg, highlighting the seriousness and urging vigilance and early treatment if symptoms develop.
Central Florida accounted for 81% of leprosy cases reported in Florida and nearly 20% of cases reported nationally, according to the CDC. A recently published research letter suggests that Central Florida is an endemic location for leprosy, with several cases showing no clear evidence of zoonotic exposure or traditional risk factors. The incidence of leprosy in the US has been historically uncommon but has gradually increased in recent years, with Florida being among the top reporting states. The transmission of leprosy is not fully understood, but prolonged person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets is considered the most recognized route of transmission.