Florida family raises alarm after teen contracts flesh-eating bacteria (opens original article in a new tab)

A 17-year-old Florida teen is hospitalized with flesh-eating bacteria after swimming in contaminated water, prompting his mother to seek financial support and advocate for public health warnings.

• 17-year-old Joziah Thompson hospitalized with flesh-eating bacteria after swimming in Florida
• Bacterium Vibrio vulnificus found in warm coastal waters caused infection
• Mother launched GoFundMe and advocates for public bacterial level information