Louisiana - Vibrio vulnificus 2025

[Pathfinder]

Flesh-eating bacteria infections rise in Louisiana; 4 dead, health officials warn

By Chris Welty
Published: Jul. 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM CDT|Updated: 8 hours ago
...
So far this year, 17 people have gotten sick from Vibrio vulnificus, and four of them have died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

“Vibrio vulnificus can cause particularly severe and even highly fatal infections,” said Theresa Sokol, an epidemiologist with the LDH.
...
“All of those individuals had severe illnesses, and they all required hospitalization,” Sokol said.

Health officials usually see fewer than 10 cases and maybe one death by this time of year. Sokol says this year’s numbers are much higher than normal.

“We feel like there is an overall increased risk right now,” she added.
...
“Some of the individuals have been exposed in Louisiana... others were exposed outside of Louisiana in other Gulf Coast states,” Sokol said.
...

https://www.fox8live.com/2025/08/01...-rise-louisiana-4-dead-health-officials-warn/

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July 31, 2025

Louisiana Department of Health urges caution to prevent Vibrio vulnificus infection

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jul 31, 2025 - The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions to prevent infection from Vibrio vulnificus. The department is seeing a higher number of Vibrio vulnificus cases and deaths than are typically reported.

So far in 2025, 17 cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported among Louisiana residents. All of these patients were hospitalized, and four of these illnesses resulted in death. During the same time period over the previous 10 years, an average of seven Vibrio vulnificus cases and one death have been reported each year in Louisiana.

Of those 17 cases, 75% reported wound/seawater exposure. Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer.

Vibrio bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters. Vibrio infection can result in gastrointestinal illness, wound infection, or blood poisoning (bloodstream infection).

About a dozen species of Vibrio can cause a human illness. Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can become seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About one in five people with this infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

Anyone can get a Vibrio infection. However, some medical conditions and treatments can increase your risk for infection and severe complications. Those conditions include:

• Having liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia,
• Receiving immune-suppressing therapy for the treatment of a disease,
• Taking medicine that decreases stomach acid levels, and
• Having had recent stomach surgery.

Common gastrointestinal signs and symptoms of Vibrio infection:

• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills

Signs and symptoms of Vibrio wound infection:

• Fever
• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Discoloration
• Discharge

Signs and symptoms of Vibrio bloodstream infection:

• Fever
• Chills
• Dangerously low blood pressure
• Blistering skin lesions

Precautions that can help keep you safe:

• Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound (including cuts and scrapes), or cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if there's a possibility it could come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• If you develop a skin infection, tell your medical provider if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• Use caution when consuming raw or undercooked seafood, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders.
• Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish.
• Avoid contaminating cooked seafood with raw seafood and their juices.

If you are in a group at higher risk for severe infection:

• Wear clothes and shoes that can protect you from cuts and scrapes when in brackish or salt water.
• Wear protective gloves when handling raw seafood.

More information can be found at the following links:

About Vibrio Infection

Preventing Vibrio Infection​

https://ldh.la.gov/news/vibrio-vulnificus-2025

 

[Pathfinder]

Louisiana Dept. of Health reports more new cases of flesh-eating bacteria

By Chris Welty
Published: Aug. 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM CDT|Updated: 13 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Louisiana state health officials confirm that three more people have been infected with vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, in the past month.

The Louisiana Department of Health says 20 people have been hospitalized with such infections this year, and four of them died.
...
The LDH confirms some residents have been exposed in Louisiana, while others were exposed in other states along the Gulf Coast.

“If we would see multiple exposures on a specific waterway, we would report that,” said Theresa Sokol with the Department of Health. “When we interview patients, they can’t tell us even specifically which waterway they were in or what part of a coastal water they were in if they were in a boat when wounded. That’s why it’s very challenging to try to explain how people can protect themselves by naming a specific waterway.”
...

https://www.fox8live.com/2025/08/13...reports-more-new-cases-flesh-eating-bacteria/

 

[Pathfinder]

Two new deaths reported from flesh-eating bacteria. Both ate Louisiana oysters.

By: Elise Plunk - August 26, 2025 5:40 pm

A Louisiana health official reported two more deaths from the flesh-eating vibrio bacteria, which were among 14 infections recorded this month. It brings the state’s fatality count attributed to the pathogen this year to six.

The two most recent deaths involved people who ate oysters harvested in Louisiana at two separate restaurants — one in Louisiana and another in Florida – according to Jennifer Armentor, molluscan shellfish program administrator from the Louisiana Department of Health.

Armentor shared information about the vibrio-related deaths Tuesday during a regular meeting of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, held at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

“It’s just prolific right now,” Armentor told task force members.

She did not provide any additional information about the individuals who died or where they ate. Armentor reiterated in a call Wednesday morning that the fatalities involved people who ate oysters, but did not confirm whether they were the source of the vibrio infection.
...

https://lailluminator.com/2025/08/26/louisiana-flesh-eating-bacteria/

 

[Shiloh]

LA: 2025 Vibrio vulnificus

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flesh-eating-bacteria-kills-fifth-person-this-year-in-louisiana/


Flesh-eating bacteria kills 5th person this year in Louisiana
healthwatch
By Kerry Breen
Edited By Camille Carolyn Knox
September 19, 2025 / 11:29 AM EDT / CBS News​

A fifth person has died after contracting a rare, flesh-eating bacteria in Louisiana, state health officials said this week.

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacteria that occurs in warm coastal waters, CBS News previously reported, and is more common between May and October. It can cause illness including life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, according to the CDC.

It's not clear how the person contracted the bacteria. The person was not identified in a news release from state health officials.​..

 

[Pathfinder]

September 16, 2025

Louisiana Department of Health continues to urge caution to prevent Vibrio vulnificus infection

Department confirms fifth resident death, 26 cases

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sep 16, 2025 - The Louisiana Department of Health is confirming the fifth death from Vibrio vulnificus, and continues to urge residents to take precautions to prevent infection. The Department continues to see a higher number of Vibrio cases and deaths than are typically reported.

Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in coastal waters and are found in higher numbers from May to October, when water temperatures are warmer. Vibrio bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.

About a dozen species of Vibrio can cause human illness, including gastrointestinal illness, wound infections, or blood poisoning (septicemia). Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can become seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

So far in 2025, 26 cases have been reported among Louisiana residents. All of these patients were hospitalized, and five of these illnesses resulted in death. Of those 26 cases, 85% reported wound/seawater exposure, and 24 of the 26 (92%) are reported to have at least one underlying health condition. During the same time period over the previous 10 years, an average of 10 Vibrio vulnificus cases and one death have been reported annually in Louisiana.

Nationally, 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus are reported annually in the U.S., with approximately 50% of cases occurring in Gulf States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). To date, in the U.S., Louisiana and Florida have seen the greatest number of cases and deaths.

Anyone can get a Vibrio infection. However, some medical conditions and treatments can increase your risk for infection and severe complications, including:

• Having liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia,
• Receiving immune-suppressing therapy for the treatment of a disease,
• Taking medicine that decreases stomach acid levels, and
• Having had recent stomach surgery.

Signs and symptoms

Gastrointestinal infection:

• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills

Vibrio wound infection:

• Fever
• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Discoloration
• Discharge

Vibrio bloodstream infection:

• Fever
• Chills
• Dangerously low blood pressure
• Blistering skin lesions

Precautions that can help keep you safe

• Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound (including cuts and scrapes), or cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if there's a possibility it could come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• If you develop a skin infection, tell your medical provider if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
• Use caution when consuming raw or undercooked seafood, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders.
• Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish.
• Avoid contaminating cooked seafood with raw seafood and their juices.

If you are in a group at higher risk for severe infection:

• Wear clothes and shoes that can protect you from cuts and scrapes when in brackish or salt water.
• Wear protective gloves when handling raw seafood.

For more information

• About Vibrio Infection
• Preventing Vibrio Infection

​https://ldh.la.gov/news/vibrio-seafood-safety