Palm Beach County is the first in the state this year to record a death from an infection of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that is found in coastal waters and most commonly contracted by eating oysters and raw shellfish.
Read more Editorial | A true double execution: In Duckett case, justice and truth lie on the gurney
Since Jan. 1, there have been 11 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus in Florida. In addition to two cases in Palm Beach County, the remainder have been recorded in Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee, Marion, Okaloosa, Polk and St. Johns counties, according to the latest Florida Department of Health data.
One case was reported in Palm Beach County in April in someone between 25 and 29 years old, while the second was reported in June in someone between 80 and 84 years old, the DOH data shows.
While most people become sick with Vibrio vulnificus by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, people can also become exposed to it if open wounds come in contact with seawater or brackish water, according to the Department of Health.
The state’s data does not specify whether the infections or death occurred from eating shellfish or from an open wound.
2022 has been a deadly year for eating oysters in Florida
Higher numbers of the bacteria are present in coastal waters between May and October, when water temperatures rise.
Standing waters also pose a threat for contracting an infection; There was a significant increase in confirmed cases and deaths in Collier and Lee counties after Hurricane Ian in 2022, and again in numerous counties on the west coast in 2024 after Hurricane Helene, according to the health department.
Florida recorded the highest number of deaths from Vibrio vulnificus in the past nine years in 2024, with a total of 19, the Department of Health data shows. The year with the second-highest number of deaths was 2022, with a total of 17.
Read more Which paintballs should I get?
In 2025, three confirmed cases were recorded in Broward County, and one person died. Across the state, five people died from Vibrio vulnificus last year.
While a dozen different kinds of the bacteria Vibrio can cause people to get sick, the CDC said Vibrio vulnificus is one of the most common types in the U.S.
Many people who contract a Vibrio vulnificus infection need intensive care or amputations of arms or legs, according to the Centers for Disease Control. One in five people who become infected die, potentially within a day or two of getting sick.
Infection from Vibrio vulnificus “is the most serious” out of the various types of the Vibrio bacteria and has a high death rate, according to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, which provides tools and guidance in predicting the probability of different species of Vibrio in certain waters across the U.S.
In 2022, a Davie man died from Vibrio vulnificus after eating a raw oyster at a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Before his death, he underwent a double amputation and emergency surgeries.
Infections by way of ingesting Vibrio vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever and “blistering skin lesions,” according to the CDC. Infections of wounds can cause fever, redness, discoloration and swelling.
Read more Led by Griezmann, new-look Orlando City hosts conference-leading Nashville
Davie man died from eating tainted oyster at celebratory dinner