An Unusual Spike
The numbers stand out against a decade of data. Over the last 10 years, Louisiana has averaged just one death from flesh-eating bacteria at this stage of the year, according to the state health department. This year's count is five times that.
Officials have not released specifics or locations for the individual cases. What they have confirmed: all nine patients were exposed to seawater, and all had underlying health conditions.
The announcement follows the state's recent launch of a new public health disease tracker that includes Vibrio vulnificus cases.
What Vibrio Vulnificus Is
Vibrio bacteria live in warm coastal waters, and in Louisiana they are typically active from May to October. Infections can cause nausea, diarrhea, fever, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most Vibrio infections are not deadly. The CDC estimates around 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur nationwide each year. But Vibrio vulnificus is the dangerous exception. It can trigger a severe flesh-destroying infection, and roughly one in five people who develop that form of the illness die.
How People Get Infected
There are two main routes. The first is through an open wound while swimming in saltwater or brackish water, which is how the bacteria earned the "flesh-eating" label. The second is eating contaminated raw shellfish, such as oysters. No wound is needed for that route.
Who Faces the Highest Risk
Serious complications hit hardest among people with weakened immune systems. That includes those with liver disease, cancer, HIV and the blood disorder thalassemia.
The risk also runs higher for people with diabetes, those taking medication that reduces stomach acid, and anyone who has recently undergone stomach surgery.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Health officials say the signs of infection include fever, redness and swelling around an open wound after swimming, and low blood pressure. Anyone who develops these symptoms after contact with coastal water should seek medical care quickly. With Vibrio vulnificus, speed matters.
How to Protect Yourself
State health authorities recommend a few straightforward precautions:
Cover open wounds with a waterproof bandage before entering saltwater or brackish water
Wash any wound with soap and water after exposure
Stay out of coastal waters entirely if you have an open wound
Keep raw seafood separate from cooked food
Cook seafood thoroughly
Wear gloves when handling raw fish, and wash your hands afterward
A Wider Gulf Coast Concern
Louisiana is not alone. One person died from a Vibrio infection in Palm Beach County, Florida, earlier this year, and warm Gulf and Atlantic coastal waters create favorable conditions for the bacteria every summer. With the season running through October, officials expect the risk window to stay open for weeks to come.
FAQ
How many people have died from flesh-eating bacteria in Louisiana in 2026?
Five, according to the Louisiana Health Department. Nine residents have been infected, and all were hospitalized.
How do you catch Vibrio vulnificus?
Through an open wound exposed to saltwater or brackish water, or by eating contaminated raw shellfish.
How deadly is the infection?
Roughly one in five people who develop the severe flesh-destroying form of the infection die.
Who is most at risk?
People who are immunocompromised, including those with liver disease, cancer, HIV, thalassemia or diabetes, plus people on stomach acid reducers or recovering from stomach surgery.
When is the risk highest?
The bacteria are typically found in warmer coastal waters from May to October.
