Louisiana warns against flesh-eating bacteria after five deaths

U.S. newsLouisiana warns against flesh-eating bacteria after five deathsState officials said nine people have been infected with Vibrio vulnificus this year and five of them have died.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00The sun rises over the beach in Grand Isle, La.Win McNamee / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 8, 2026, 3:35 PM EDTBy Matt LavietesLouisiana health officials are urging residents to take precautions against a flesh-eating bacterial infection following the deaths of five people this year.The Louisiana Department of Health issued a warning about the infection, known as Vibrio vulnificus, in a press release on Thursday.The department said nine people have been infected this year and five have died. By comparison, Louisiana averaged seven cases and one death annually over the previous 10 years during the same time period.All of this year’s reported cases were linked to wounds exposed to seawater, and all patients had underlying health conditions, the department added.Vibrio bacteria naturally live in coastal waters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is more common in the summer when water temperatures rise.People can contract the infection by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters, or when an open wound comes into contact with coastal waters, the CDC says.About 1 in 5 people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, according to the agency.While anyone can be infected, the Louisiana Department of Health said those most at risk include people with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or thalassemia; people undergoing immune-suppressing treatment; people taking medication that reduces stomach acid; and people who recently had stomach surgery.Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, according to the CDC.The department urged residents to seek medical care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, pai...