Florida’s Department of Health confirmed the state’s first death from a rare type of flesh-eating bacteria in 2026.
According to data from the health department, there have been 12 cases and one death from Vibrio vulnificus, the bacteria, in Florida, as of July 30. The lone death was reported in Palm Beach County.
In 2025, state health officials confirmed 33 cases across the state including five deaths. But there were significantly more cases of the rare bacteria in 2022 and 2024.
Health authorities reported 74 cases across 2022 and 82 cases in 2024, according to the Department of Health. Of the cases in 2022, 17 died, while 19 died in 2024.
The Florida Department of Health did not say how or where people contracted the infections this year….