Louisiana warns beachgoers amid surge in flesh-eating bacteria infections

State confirms nine cases, including five deaths, from Vibrio vulnificus organism, which thrives in seawater

Health officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacterium found in coastal waters.

Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state's health department said last week in a news release. All were hospitalized, and five died. During the same period over the previous decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death.