Health officials are sending a warning to residents located in the Gulf Coast states after eight people were feared dead from flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio Vulnificus.

The Louisiana Department of Health shared how 17 cases of the flesh-eating bacteria have occurred this year, all of which have rise to so many hospitalizations.

Furthermore, four cases resulted in death. Nearly 75% of those cases were linked to wound infection through seawater.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed that 13 cases and four deaths from Vibrio took place last year. Both Mississippi and Alabama were also said to have filed single cases, but neither of them was called out to be fatal. Health officials are now encouraging residents to educate themselves to stay safe during the entire summer.

Vibrio is said to be the source of over 80,000 illnesses in the US every year, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people were sickened by Vibrio after eating raw or not properly cooked shellfish, especially those linked to oysters. This is because the bacteria end up concentrating inside the shellfish, as shared by the CDC. However, they end up living in brackish water and give rise to an infection if a swimmer has open wounds.