Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Vibrio on July 1, 2026
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report explores how people get Vibrio infections. With Vibrio Season in full swing, it is a great time to explore the results of this study to protect ourselves from potential risks.
But first, what exactly is Vibrio and why is it so dangerous? How do you get Vibrio and how do you protect yourself from it? What do the CDC statistics tell us?
Vibrio is a type of bacteria that thrives in warm brackish waters. Places like coastal waters. We often see Vibrio outbreaks in Florida, Louisiana, Washington, and places oysters are shipped to.
These germs tend to multiply to infectious numbers when the temperatures rise. If the thermometer isn’t an indication, the sweat developing on your brow minutes after leaving the sweet solace of air conditioning is sure to be a sign.
Vibrio season is here!
So, why do we care about it? It is a germ in the ocean.
This bacterium can cause serious skin and blood infections, resulting in amputation or even death.
Do I have your attention now?
Thought so.
There are two types of Vibrio infections. Ones caused by contact with infected seafood or water, resulting in a wound infection. Others contracted from foodborne illness. Often consuming raw or undercooked food or food contaminated with it.
When people get wound Vibrio infections, it is often referred to as “flesh eating bacteria.” This is because of the way the bacteria necrotizes the flesh. If the afflicted area isn’t removed (debrided or in worse circumstances, amputated) it can lead to fatal blood infections.
These types of infections occur when infected water comes in contact with an open wound (cut, scratch, abrasion, or rash). It can also occur while handling raw shellfish, such as the drippings or residual water on the items or its packaging.
Wound Vibrio infections should be addressed as soon as possible.
These types of infections are typically topical.
Common wound infection symptoms include:
Once Vibrio enters the bloodstream, it can become deadly.
Common symptoms of bloodstream Vibrio infections include:
Another common way people become sick with Vibrio infections is by consuming raw shellfish. Especially oysters.
This does not only apply to oysters you catch yourself. You can become infected with foodborne Vibrio by eating raw oysters at a restaurant too!
Despite the health risk that is required to go alongside the menu item, people consume these raw seafood products all the time.
Foodborne Vibrio infections cause gastrointestinal illness. These illnesses can range from mild to severe. Even deadly.
If you become sick after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, seek medical help right away.
Symptoms of food poisoning caused by Vibrio from oysters involve digestive and flu-like symptoms.
Common gastrointestinal symptoms include:
Now that I have hopefully scared you a little… Because let’s face it, Vibrio is quite scary. Let’s talk about prevention.
The best way to prevent wound Vibrio infections is to avoid sea or brackish water if you have an open wound, scratch, abrasion, or rash. If you must enter the water, cover it up with a water-tight bandage.
This also applies to processing shellfish.
If you are shucking or cooking shellfish with an open wound, scratch, abrasion, or rash, be sure to bandage it up or ask another person to perform that task. It isn’t worth a life-threatening illness or limb amputation.
The best way to prevent foodborne Vibrio infections is avoiding raw oysters and other shellfish. Opt for baked, grilled, or fried instead.
You can get a Vibrio infection even if you add lemon juice or alcohol. Even if you add vinegar or whatever other old wives’ tale you want to believe. None of those treatments will kill this deadly bacterium. The only way to protect yourself is to be sure it is fully cooked.
The CDC report analyzed Vibrio illnesses in 2024. In all, 3,755 infections were reported to the CDC that year.
Some of the transmissions were associated with travel. This accounted for about 12% of the illnesses.
Of the domestically acquired illnesses, most were classified as foodborne. Accounting for 77% of the 3,289 cases in the United States.
Aside from foodborne, 17% were considered “non-foodborne or likely non-foodborne transmission.” Unknown transmission accounted for the remaining 6%.
Most (83%) of the people who acquired Vibrio wound infections in 2024 reported illness within seven days of illness onset. Followed by 32% of people reporting contact with drippings from raw or live seafood. another 10% indicated contact with marine life.
Most cases of foodborne Vibrio infections were acquired from seafood. So, let’s talk about what seafood they consumed prior to becoming sick.
Most sick patients reported eating oysters (44%), followed by shrimp (43%), and fish (39%).
Of those reporting illness and only consumed oysters, 87% indicated they consumed them raw.
While it may be rare, Vibrio bacterial infections are very serious. What should you do if you become infected with Vibrio bacteria?
If you feel you have become sick from eating food contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus, or have an infected wound, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms progress rapidly and can go from bad to worse very quickly.
Notify your healthcare provider that you may have been infected with Vibrio to facilitate faster diagnosis and specialized treatment.
If you have become sick with a Vibrio infection, your local health department will likely interview you to help determine the cause of your illness.
Have you had contact with salt or brackish water? Have you come into contact with raw seafood?
What foods have you consumed in the weeks prior to becoming sick.
Make this list as early as you feel able to. The sooner you make the list, the more complete it will likely be. Your experience may point to a source of illness that impacts others.
If you became infected with Vibrio bacteria from eating contaminated or undercooked food, you may want to seek advice from a Vibrio lawyer. An experienced Vibrio lawyer can go over the details of your case to determine if you have a legal case.
Contact the Vibrio lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC at (833) 330-3663 or click here for a free consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)