Florida Reports 4th Vibrio Death in 2026 as Cases Reach 21
Updated
Updated · NBC Miami · Sep 16
Florida Reports 4th Vibrio Death in 2026 as Cases Reach 21
3 articles · Updated · NBC Miami · Sep 16
Summary
Broward County recorded Florida’s fourth Vibrio vulnificus death of 2026, according to the state health department’s latest update.
21 infections have been confirmed statewide this year, including two in Broward and two in Miami-Dade; earlier deaths were reported in Palm Beach, Bay and Marion counties.
Vibrio vulnificus lives in warm, brackish seawater, and infections usually follow eating raw or undercooked seafood—especially oysters—or exposing open wounds to coastal water.
Florida logged 33 cases and five deaths in 2025, after 82 cases and 19 deaths in 2024, when officials said Hurricane Helene drove an unusual increase in some counties.