Louisiana health officials on Thursday urged residents to take precautions following an uptick in cases of the dangerous flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters, and people can get sickened by it through raw shellfish or open wounds.

A flesh-eating bacteria found in warm coastal waters is responsible for at least five deaths so far this year in Louisiana, state health officials reported Thursday.

The number of reported infections this year is significantly higher than average