‘I did have a cut when we went boating’: Florida woman describes flesh-eating bacteria as cases rise
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
Florida has reported 14 cases of what’s known as “flesh-eating bacteria” this year. One of the most recent cases involved a child in Brevard County.
While it’s fairly rare, the infection can escalate quickly.
>> Related: Marion County resident dies after contracting Vibrio infection
‘Lost so much of my left leg’
Genevieve Gallagher said she’s lucky to be alive after contracting the rare but life-altering infection in 2025.
“This will turn your life upside down,” Gallagher said. “I lost so much of my left leg, below my kneecap. It’s unbelievable the amount of trauma I’ve been through.”
She contracted Vibrio vulnificus while out on the water with her 8-year-old daughter and husband. It wasn’t until days later that she realized things were getting serious.
“I did have a cut when we went boating,” Gallagher said. “By Wednesday is when everything started to go downhill.”
>> Related: Florida reports first flesh-eating bacteria death of 2026
Her wound turned black. She said she felt ill and was profusely sweating. Her husband took her to the emergency room. She was unconscious for days but said she’s thankful she survived.
14 cases in Florida
This year, there have been 14 cases in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health. Brevard County had one case, involving a child between the ages of 10 and 14. Marion County had two cases, one of which was deadly. Polk County had one case.
Dr. Autumn Barnes, a family medicine physician with Health First, said this is a rare infection.
“Flesh-eating bacteria is a bit of a misnomer. What we’re really talking about is different bacteria, specifically Vibrio vulnificus in this case, that can cause a serious infection called necrotizing fasciitis. Now, that can cause a lot of damage to your tissues really quickly,” Barnes said.
She said you can be exposed in two ways. One is through undercooked or raw shellfish, especially oysters. The other is through an open wound or cut in warm saltwater or brackish water.
“Not everyone who is exposed to it is going to get this infection. It is fairly rare,” Barnes said. “But once you do get it, it’s something that you’d want to pay attention to fairly quickly. People who are more likely to get infected are those with compromised immune systems.”
Gallagher warns people to stay vigilant. She said she has no autoimmune issues and is healthy and active.
“Going to the beach for a day of fun is not worth it. If you have a cut on your leg, a mosquito bite that you scratched and it’s open, if you shaved your legs before you are going to the beach the next day, you are leaving those little microscopic openings for this bacteria to make its way in,” Gallagher said.
She hopes her message can help save someone else.
“It’s very serious. You can lose your life,” Gallagher said.