Florida man dies after using tap water: What is the brain-eating amoeba that killed him?

A brain-eating amoeba just claimed another victim.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed that a Charlotte County resident, who has not been named, passed away after being infected by _Naegleria fowleri_.

According to a news release issued on 23 February, the infection possibly resulted from “sinus rinse practices utilising tap water.”

CNN quoted Jae Williams, press secretary for the Florida Department of Health, as saying, that officials across different government agencies are “continuing to investigate how this infection occurred.”

He stated that they are “working with the local public utilities to identify any potential links and make any necessary corrective actions.”

Let’s take a closer look at Naegleria fowleri:

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What is it?

As per the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled living organism that can only be seen under a microscope.

It is mainly found in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs as well as soil.

As per The Straits Times, this amoeba was first found in 1937 in Virginia.

How does it infect people?

Through the nose.

Once it gets into the brain, it begins destroying tissue and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

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As per CDC, this usually happens while swimming or diving in lakes and rivers.

It can also occur if people use tap-infected water to clean their noses and sinuses.

In extremely rare cases, infections have arisen from water in pools, splash pads, or surf parks that don’t have enough chlorine.

People cannot contract it by drinking contaminated water. It is also not found in salt water like the ocean, as per the CDC.

It cannot be transferred from one human being to another, as per Economic Times.

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What are the symptoms?

The initial symptoms, appearing five days post-infection, include

• Headache

• Fever

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Stiff neck

• Seizures

• Altered mental state

• Coma

• Death

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Can it be treated?

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for it.

As per Economic Times, the amoeba being extremely rare makes it difficult to diagnose.

It is usually treated through inflammation-controlling medication supportive care to address complications.

But how deadly is it?

Extremely.

Its death rate is an astounding 97 per cent, as per CDC.

Just four people of 154 infected in the United States from 1962 to 2021 survived an infection.

The Straits Times quoted the KDCA as advising residents to avoid swimming in regions and neighbourhoods where the disease broke out.

“To prevent the infection of Naegleria fowleri, we recommend avoiding swimming and leisure-related activities and using clean water when travelling to areas where cases have been reported,” Dr Jee Young-mee, who heads the KDCA, was quoted as saying.

In 2018, 381 cases of Naegleria fowleri were reported across the globe in countries such as India, Thailand, the United States, China and Japan, as per the newspaper.

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When was the first case reported?

The first case of the potentially deadly amoeba was reported in South Korea in December last year.

A 50-year-old man passed away after being infected by the rare brain-eating amoeba.

He had returned to South Korea after a four-month stay in Thailand.

Reportedly, the victim displayed meningitis symptoms on the day of his arrival. He was admitted to the hospital and passed away on 21 December.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that the cause of his death was identified via genetic testing on three different infections that cause Naegleria fowleri.

Tests showed the body had a gene 99.6 per cent identical to one discovered in a meningitis patient abroad.

With inputs from agencies

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