Environmental News

Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba: How To Prevent Naegleria Fowleri Infection

Brain Eating Amoeba

The brain-eating amoeba, officially named Naegleria fowleri, has been responsible for three deaths this year in the US. The amoeba is typically found in warm fresh water, like rivers and lakes.

Officials in Louisiana have been keeping a watchful eye on two of their water systems that tested positive for the parasite last month.

Health officials report that drinking contaminated water can’t infect a person, according to CBS. However, if the water goes up your nose it can reach the brain and cause infection.

One it’s traveled up the nose and into the brain the amoeba begins “to destroy brain tissue, unfortunately leading to death within a very short period of time,” said Dr. Jonathan Yoder, and epidemiologist at the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can be forced up the nose, cross into the brain and begin to destroy brain tissue, unfortunately leading to death within a very short period of time.

Symptoms present with fever, stiff neck, headache, and vomiting. These symptoms are common with the flu and other illnesses. Experts are urging anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek out medical attention, especially if they come down with the symptoms after being in or around warm fresh water.

While infections from the brain-eating amoeba are rare, they are almost always fatal.

Yoder says there are ways for people to reduce their risk of infection. He suggests not swimming in warm water, and if you do decide to go swimming not to place your head under water. “Or not have water forced up their nose. If they wear nose clips, that might prevent some of that water being forced up,” he said.

They might decide not to go swimming in water that is warm and untreated or if they go swimming they might decide not to put their head under water. Or not have water forced up their nose. If they wear nose clips, that might prevent some of that water being forced up.

If you live in Louisiana where the amoeba was detected in the water, the CDC recommends taking the following precautions:

  • DO NOT allow water to go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming in small hard plastic/blow-up pools.
  • DO NOT jump into or put your head under bathing water (bathtubs, small hard plastic/blow-up pools); walk or lower yourself in.
  • DO NOT allow children to play unsupervised with hoses or sprinklers, as they may accidentally squirt water up their nose. Avoid slip-n-slides or other activities where it is difficult to prevent water going up the nose.
  • DO run bath and shower taps and hoses for five minutes before use to flush out the pipes. This is most important the first time you use the tap after the water utility raises the disinfectant level.
  • DO keep small hard plastic/blow-up pools clean by emptying, scrubbing and allowing them to dry after each use.
  • DO use only boiled and cooled, distilled or sterile water for making sinus rinse solutions for neti pots or performing ritual ablutions.
  • DO keep your swimming pool adequately disinfected before and during use.
  • If you need to top off the water in your swimming pool with tap water, place the hose directly into the skimmer box and ensure that the filter is running. Do not top off the pool by placing the hose in the body of the pool.
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