BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has reported nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection this year, including five deaths, prompting state health officials to urge residents to take precautions around warm coastal and brackish waters.
The Louisiana Department of Health said all nine people infected in 2026 were hospitalized and had underlying health conditions. Each case involved a wound that was exposed to seawater, according to state health officials. Five of the patients died.
The number of cases and deaths is higher than Louisiana typically records by this point in the year. Over the previous decade, the state averaged about seven Vibrio vulnificus infections and one death annually during the comparable period, according to the health department.
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that occurs naturally in warm coastal waters and is more common during the warmer months, generally from May through October. It can cause severe wound infections and bloodstream infections, particularly among people with certain underlying medical conditions.
People can become infected when the bacteria enter cuts or other breaks in the skin after exposure to saltwater or brackish water. Infection can also occur after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters, although the Louisiana cases reported this year were associated with wound and seawater exposure.
The health department has advised people with open wounds to avoid saltwater and brackish water or to keep wounds covered with waterproof bandages. It also recommends promptly cleaning wounds that come into contact with coastal water and taking precautions when handling raw seafood.
People with liver disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems and other underlying conditions face a higher risk of severe illness. Health authorities have emphasized that prompt medical treatment is important when an infection is suspected.
Vibrio bacteria are naturally present in coastal environments, and Louisiana health officials have issued similar warnings in previous years when infections rose above typical levels. In 2025, the state reported substantially more cases by late summer, underscoring the seasonal nature of the infection.
As of the latest reported figures, Louisiana had recorded nine Vibrio vulnificus infections and five deaths in 2026, with health officials continuing to urge caution during the summer coastal-water season.
