IBERIA PARISH — Oysters are a multi-million dollar industry in Louisiana — and a cultural staple along the Gulf Coast. But this summer, a deadly bacteria is putting both the industry and consumers on high alert.

Vibrio vulnificus, sometimes called a “flesh-eating bacteria,” occurs naturally in warm, brackish waters. Infections and deaths are rare, but according to the Louisiana Department of Health, cases are already spiking above the state’s usual annual average of seven infections and one death since 2015.

Elaine Buteau, owner of Landry’s Seafood & Steakhouse in New Iberia, said she understands the risks that come with oyster season.

“In the summertime, it’s a little more risky, you know, for bacteria,” Buteau explained. Her restaurant hasn’t served raw oysters in some time, a choice

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