A 77-year-old grandfather and avid sailor from Mississippi has become
the latest person to die from a rare but aggressive flesh-eating bacterial
infection, bringing the total number of deaths to nine across the Gulf Coast
this year.
The man, identified as Basil Kennedy from Bay St. Louis, Louisiana,
slipped and scratched his leg while launching his boat, leading to exposure to Vibrio
vulnificus. Over just three days, he developed alarming symptoms including
vomiting, fever, and signs of septic shock. Emergency surgery was performed to
remove dead tissue caused by the infection, but tragically he succumbed to
organ failure.
Authorities in Florida and Louisiana are issuing urgent warnings after
reporting unusually high case numbers. Florida has recorded 16 cases with five
deaths across 12 counties, while Louisiana reports 17 infections with four
deaths—most contracted from contaminated water rather than shellfish.
Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters and can enter the body
through open wounds, but it may also cause severe illness from eating
contaminated shellfish. Although infections are rare, they can escalate rapidly
and become life-threatening.
Kennedy’s daughters described him as the “life of the party,” warning that they don’t wish for people to fear the water but to respect it—especially if they have a wound. Health officials continue to emphasize awareness, advising anyone with cuts to avoid exposure to coastal water and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms arise.
