Louisiana is seeing a sharp increase in cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria sometimes called flesh-eating bacteria, with nine cases and five deaths reported so far in 2026. That is already well above the state’s typical yearly average of seven cases and one death, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Health officials say all nine cases this year involved people who entered seawater with an open wound, and every patient had an underlying health condition. The department is urging residents and visitors to take precautions before swimming or handling seafood as water temperatures stay warm through October.
What is Vibrio vulnificus
Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria found in warm coastal and brackish waters. It becomes more common from May through October, when water temperatures rise. The bacteria infections typically happen one of two ways, through an open wound exposed to contaminated seawater, or by eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How dangerous is a Vibrio infection
Vibrio vulnificus can cause gastrointestinal illness, wound infections or bloodstream infections. In severe cases, it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a condition in which tissue around an open wound dies rapidly, which is the reason the bacteria has earned its flesh-eating nickname. The Louisiana Department of Health says roughly one in five people infected with Vibrio vulnificus dies, sometimes within a day or two of symptoms starting. People with severe infections may need intensive care or limb amputation.
Who is most at risk
People with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or thalassemia face a higher risk of severe complications, as do people on immune-suppressing medications or drugs that reduce stomach acid, and those who have recently had stomach surgery. Health officials note that every patient in Louisiana’s 2026 cases had an existing health condition, underscoring how much underlying illness shapes the severity of these infections.
What symptoms should prompt a doctor visit
Early signs of a Vibrio skin infection include fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration and discharge around a wound, according to the CDC. If the bacteria reaches the bloodstream, it can cause fever, chills, septic shock and blistering skin lesions. Anyone who develops these symptoms of the bacteria after wading in warm coastal water with a wound, or after eating raw shellfish, should seek medical care right away and tell their provider about the possible exposure.
How can people protect themselves
Louisiana health officials recommend staying out of brackish or salt water with any open wound, including cuts, scrapes, recent surgical sites or piercings. Anyone who may come into contact with coastal water or raw seafood should cover wounds with a waterproof bandage and wash them thoroughly with soap and water afterward. Cooking seafood thoroughly is especially important for people who are pregnant, immunocompromised or living with liver or stomach conditions. Officials also advise washing hands after handling raw shellfish, keeping cooked seafood separate from raw seafood and its juices, and wearing protective footwear and gloves in coastal water or while preparing shellfish, particularly for those in higher risk groups to avoid this bacteria.
Vibrio infections remain rare overall, and most healthy people who are exposed experience only mild symptoms. But given this year’s unusual jump in severe cases, Louisiana health officials say basic precautions around wounds, warm water and raw seafood matter more than usual this season.
