Four people in Florida have died and seven others have been sickened this year by a rare but potentially deadly bacterial infection known as Vibrio vulnificus, state health officials confirmed.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the bacterium normally lives in warm, brackish seawater and it can make people sick in two ways: Eating contaminated seafood can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

HEALTH ALERT ⚠ Florida health officials are warning of a flesh-eating bacteria has already killed four people, including one in the Tampa Bay area.