Vibrio cases reach record high in Florida, survivor urges caution

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Cases of flesh-eating bacteria are on the rise following recent natural disasters.

Vibrio vulnificus occurs naturally in warm coastal waters. Its concentrations can increase during heavy rain and floods.

People in coastal areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are seeing a rise in cases.

So far this year, there have been four cases in Escambia County, two in Santa Rosa and one in Okaloosa.

WEAR News spoke with a local Vibrio survivor about his experience and how he wants to raise awareness among people in our area.

“We had six people when I got it, and I’m the only one who survived,” Vibrio survivor Bernie Stewart said.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there were a record 76 Vibrio cases in Florida in 2024, 13 of which were fatal.

In September, only six cases were documented for the month up to Helene, and that number rose to 23.

Since Milton the number rose again to 38.

That's half the number of cases in the entire year – but it happened in just a few weeks.

“If you go out into these waters during the hot months, please use caution,” Stewart said. “You can’t see it and you can’t smell it.”

Stewart lives here in Pensacola and had a direct encounter with Vibrio just five years ago.

He was on the boat getting out of the water of Pensacola's Big Lagoon when he noticed a blister on his ankle.

“Half an hour later it crippled me,” Stewart said. “I couldn’t even walk anymore.”

“My wife had me draw a line where the redness was. I went to Sacred Heart Hospital and when I got there I was only about 10 minutes away from Sacred Heart,” he added. “It was four inches above that line. These are the bacteria. When they opened my leg they said they could see it crawling up my leg.”

Stewart had to undergo ten operations and was in an induced coma for more than two weeks.

“I know they don't like to publicize it and advertise it because it would scare away a lot of tourists, but you don't want to hurt them either,” Stewart said.

He also wants people to be aware of the signs. If you've been in the water and see a bubble, get it checked out because timing is everything.

“Don’t even wait, just go,” Stewart said.

Because Stewart didn't wait, he was barely able to save his leg and his life.

The bacteria are spread by drinking contaminated water or by contact with open skin.

You can also get it from eating improperly cooked seafood.