There have been countless reports of an increase in Vibrio vulnificus infections this summer. Last month, health officials in Florida confirmed 11 cases, including one death, from the flesh-eating bacteria this year.
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As reported by PEOPLE, a Pensacola mother is warning others to take precautions before swimming in the ocean. Genevieve Gallagher lost "a lot of [her] leg" after a cut became infected with the bacterium last year.
There Has Been a Spike in Cases Involving the Flesh-Eating Bacteria
There were 33 cases and five deaths from the flesh-eating bacteria in Florida. Officials say the increase in Vibrio vulnificus infections is due to the impact of Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The bacterium thrives in coastal waters. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people become sick from the flesh-eating bacteria after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters. The bacteria will typically "concentrate" in the shellfish.
Vibrio vulnificus is also found in saltwater. An infection can occur if a swimmer has an open wound, a recent tattoo, or even a piercing.
Days after Gallagher went swimming in July 2025, she says her body "began to shut down."
"I was taken back for immediate surgery," she said. "Every organ in my body began to fail. I went septic. I was intubated for six days, almost lost my life."
Gallagher's Leg Was "Missing at the Bottom"
Vibrio vulnificus is called the "flesh-eating bacteria" because it causes the skin around where it enters the body to die. The only treatment is to remove the affected skin. This often leads to amputation.
When Gallagher awoke from surgery, she said she found "a lot of my leg was missing at the bottom."
She warns, "If you have any open cuts at all, like mosquito bites that are open you've scratched. Do not shave the night before you go in the water. Just anything. It's so serious, and you can get it. You can get it. So do not take that chance [with] your life."
