Louisiana health officials have confirmed five deaths from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium found in warm coastal waters, in 2025. This figure substantially exceeds the annual average of one death reported over the past decade, according to the state's department of health.
As of Wednesday, at least 26 people have been infected with the bacterium, with all cases requiring hospitalisation. Of these, 85% involved wounds exposed to seawater, and 92% of infected individuals had at least one underlying health condition, officials said.
The rise in cases comes amid warnings from researchers that Vibrio infections are becoming more common due to rising sea surface temperatures linked to climate change. The bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters, typically between May and October.
One case highlighted by local media involved Basil Kennedy, 77, who died in July after contracting the bacterium from a scrape on his leg while in Bay St Louis, Mississippi. His daughter, Kay Kennedy Regimbal, urged public education on risks rather than fear of water.
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection include gastrointestinal illness, severe wound infections, fever, blistering, and dangerously low blood pressure. About one in five infections prove fatal, sometimes within two days. The US typically reports 150–200 cases annually, with most in Gulf Coast states.
