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Florida Hit With 25 Cases of Flesh-Eating Bacteria

SCARY

The rare, flesh-eating bacteria found in brackish seawater has killed five people in the Tampa Bay area this year.

Nyasia Arzuaga looks out at storm clouds, as Hurricane Ian spun toward the state carrying high winds, torrential rains and a powerful storm surge, at Ben T. Davis Beach in Tampa, Florida.
SHANNON STAPLETON/Reuters

A rare, flesh-eating bacteria found in brackish seawater has killed five people in the Tampa Bay area this year. Now, health officials are warning Florida residents to stay vigilant when swimming in the state’s waters thanks to Vibrio vulnificus, a naturally occurring bacteria with some nasty symptoms.

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