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Health officials warn about swimming in Gulf amid seven deaths linked to deadly bacteria
Just The News ^ | August 10, 2026 | Joseph Weber

Posted on 08/10/2026 9:59:14 PM PDT by Red Badger

The warnings were issued in Florida and Louisiana, where state officials have confirmed at total 23 cases so far.

Health officials are urging Gulf Coast beach-goers to take precautions when entering the water during a summer surge of infections from a flesh-eating bacteria that has been attributed to seven deaths.

The warnings were issued in Florida and Louisiana, where state officials have confirmed nine cases this year of Vibrio vulnificus infections, including five deaths, according to PBS.com.

Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death, over the same period over the previous decade.

Florida has reported at least 14 cases and two deaths.

Health experts say Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons and that the Gulf is an ideal environment because it has the ideal mix of salt and heat to let this organism proliferate, PBS also reports.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Outdoors; Travel; Weather
KEYWORDS: alabama; bacteria; florida; gulfofamerica; gulfofbacteria; gulfofmexico; louisiana; mississippi; texas; vibriovulnificus

1 posted on 08/10/2026 9:59:14 PM PDT by Red Badger
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To: dfwgator; EEGator; alligator; FamiliarFace; Fireone; V_TWIN; Clay Moore

Ping!.............


2 posted on 08/10/2026 10:01:08 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger

Some years ago, a friend of mine in Tallahassee contracted a life threatening vibrio infection while surf fishing in the Gulf. A month in intensive care saved his life but left him with a permanent limp and difficulty walking.


3 posted on 08/10/2026 10:06:46 PM PDT by Rockingham
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To: Rockingham

If it isn’t flesh eating bacteria, it’s amoebas, Red Tide, alligators, Burmese Pythons, malaria, West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever.....Florida is America’s version of Australia............


4 posted on 08/10/2026 10:14:12 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger

“total 23 cases”
“nine cases ... including five deaths”
“seven cases and one death”
“14 cases and two deaths”
-
I am confused.


5 posted on 08/10/2026 10:17:45 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th ( I am obsessed with not being obsessed with anything.)
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To: Red Badger

Oysters can be infected with Vibrio. And there is no telltale sign when they are. It makes eating raw oysters a roll of the dice.


6 posted on 08/10/2026 11:05:48 PM PDT by Pelham (President Eisenhower. Operation Wetback 1953-54)
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To: Red Badger
Which “gulf?”

Oh, I don’t know.

Could it be the Gulf of AMERICA?

7 posted on 08/11/2026 1:02:55 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless aDonald Trump ppl ppl)
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To: Red Badger

From me crib in Orlando, that looks to be fair dinkum, mate.


8 posted on 08/11/2026 1:08:10 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: Repeal The 17th

Math is not a requirement in journalizm skoolze............


9 posted on 08/11/2026 4:29:40 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Rockingham

😁..............


10 posted on 08/11/2026 4:31:26 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger
If it isn’t flesh eating bacteria, it’s amoebas, Red Tide, alligators, Burmese Pythons, malaria, West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever.....Florida is America’s version of Australia............ Man.

😁

11 posted on 08/11/2026 5:14:16 AM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)
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To: Red Badger

In Mississippi - on the coast, we have a saying - “You can tell the tourists; they’re the ones in the water.”


12 posted on 08/11/2026 5:49:05 AM PDT by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
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To: Red Badger

Yes, that is why I always recommend that people stay away from Fl. Tell everyone you know - DO NOT move here. You left out hurricanes and a few Dems.


13 posted on 08/11/2026 5:49:30 AM PDT by Hot Rod Garage
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To: trebb

Florida, too!...................


14 posted on 08/11/2026 5:49:42 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Hot Rod Garage

And sharks, don’t forget the sharks!.......most important!..............


15 posted on 08/11/2026 5:50:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Pelham

“It makes eating raw oysters a roll of the dice.”

Looks like I am totally safe from that!


16 posted on 08/11/2026 5:53:30 AM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: Repeal The 17th

Per AI, source given...

“The CDC estimates that about 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur in the U.S. every year, resulting in about 100 deaths. Of those 80,000 cases, most are caused by a Vibrio called parahaemolyticus, which most commonly results in gastroenteritis, or food poisoning.May 23, 2026”


17 posted on 08/11/2026 5:56:09 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: mewzilla

This might help expla8n a bit as well...

https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/disease/vibrio-infections/

Per the above...

“...Florida is prone to severe weather events and following a storm, such as a hurricane, flood waters and standing waters pose risks for Vibrio vulnificus exposure. It’s important to take precautions against infection and illness following any storm event.”


18 posted on 08/11/2026 5:57:44 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: Ezekiel

Floridude


19 posted on 08/11/2026 9:02:46 AM PDT by Keyhopper (Indians had bad immigration laws)
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