Flesh-eating bacteria has killed 5 in Louisiana this year, officials say
Louisiana health officials report five deaths and nine total cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, all linked to seawater exposure in individuals with underlying health conditions. Experts note that rising ocean temperatures due to climate change are expanding the range of these bacteria, which are typically found in warmer coastal waters.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and geographic spread of flesh-eating bacteria pose a growing public health challenge, particularly as climate change alters marine environments.
A flesh-eating bacterium found in warm coastal waters is responsible for at least five deaths so far this year in Louisiana, state health officials reported Thursday. There have been at least nine total cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the state in 2026, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. All nine patients were hospitalized.The nine patients all contracted Vibrio vulnificus through wounds that were exposed to seawater, the health department said, and all of them had underlying health conditions. Over the past 10 years, Louisiana has averaged seven cases of Vibrio vulnificus per year and one fatality, the health department said. In 2025, however, there were at least 26 cases and five fatalities recorded in the state. The Florida Department of Health has also recorded two deaths from Vibrio vulnificus so far this year. In 2024, it reported 19 deaths, and another five in 2025.
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