Florida has recorded its first death of the year attributed to the rare and potent flesh-eating bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, health officials announced. The victim, an individual between 80 and 84 years old, was a resident of Palm Beach County.
The infection was reportedly contracted through exposure to tainted coastal waters and the consumption of raw oysters. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the fatality, with the patient's exact date of death not specified. This marks the first death from the bacteria in the United States this year, although 11 other cases have been reported within Florida.
Coastal areas in Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, and St. John's counties have also seen cases. Marion and Polk counties, which do not border the ocean, have reported infections likely stemming from brackish waterways.
Last year, five deaths in Florida were linked to Vibrio vulnificus, out of 33 total cases in the state. The bacteria are most prevalent in Florida during the warmer months, typically from June through September, coinciding with increased beach and boating activities.
Vibrio vulnificus thrives in coastal and brackish water environments. Infection can occur through ingestion of contaminated seafood or via open wounds exposed to the bacteria. Symptoms can include vomiting and stomach pain, and in severe instances, it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a condition where tissue around a wound dies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in five individuals infected with Vibrio vulnificus die, sometimes within 48 hours of symptom onset. Limb amputation is also a severe potential consequence for some patients.