Louisiana Reports Five Deaths from Flesh-Eating Bacteria

Louisiana health officials confirmed five deaths and nine total cases of the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus this year, all linked to wounds exposed to contaminated seawater.

Florida has also reported two deaths and 14 additional cases, while Alabama has recorded six confirmed infections, prompting warnings for beachgoers in Gulf Coast states.

The CDC notes that about 1 in 5 infected people die, often within days, and advises those with open wounds or underlying health conditions to avoid warm salt or brackish water.