As Florida rebuilds in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, an invisible threat lurks in the floodwaters: a potentially deadly bacteria.

When most people think of the recent hurricane that hit Florida, images of destroyed homes, wrecked roads, and storm surges come to mind. But amidst the chaos, a hidden enemy has claimed 13 lives this year—a deadly bacteria that thrives in storm-ravaged environments.

An increase in the number of Vibrio vulnificus cases this year was to be expected as the infection can be contracted through exposure of open wounds to saltwater, which is common after hurricanes.