Deadly brain-eating amoeba kills Texas woman: how to be safe?
A 71-year-old
Texas
woman died after contracting a rare but deadly infection caused by the
brain-eating amoeba
,
Naegleria fowleri
. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the woman used untreated tap water from her RV's supply for nasal irrigation, a practice that allowed the amoeba to enter her body through her nose.
Within days, she developed severe neurological symptoms, including headache, fever, confusion, and seizures. Despite rapid medical intervention, she succumbed to the infection just eight days after symptoms began. The CDC stresses that such infections are extremely rare but almost always fatal, with only four survivors among 164 reported U.S. cases from 1962 to 2023.
What is Naegleria fowleri?
Naegleria fowleri
is a free-living, single-celled amoeba found in warm freshwater environments worldwide, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and poorly maintained pools. It is commonly called the 'brain-eating amoeba' because it can cause a fatal brain infection.
How do people get infected?
Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, usually during swimming, diving, or nasal irrigation with contaminated water. Drinking contaminated water does not cause infection.
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Death usually occurs within 5 days of symptom onset.
How common are infections?
Infections are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually in the U.S. over the past five decades
Can the infection be treated?
Treatment options are limited and often unsuccessful. Some experimental therapies, such as miltefosine, have shown promise if administered early, but survival remains rare.
How can infection be prevented?
Use only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled tap water for nasal irrigation. Avoid submerging your head in warm freshwater, especially during the summer months.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices)
Air Condition | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
The Science Behind Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri
is a thermophilic (heat-loving) amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater environments, particularly during summer months. It exists in three life stages: cyst (dormant and resistant), flagellate (transient and mobile), and trophozoite (active and feeding).The trophozoite stage is the infectious form, capable of invading the nasal passages and migrating to the brain via the olfactory nerve, where it causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
The amoeba is classified as a free-living organism, meaning it does not require a host to survive. Instead, it feeds on bacteria and organic matter in the environment. While most exposures do not result in infection, when the amoeba enters the nose, it can rapidly cause severe brain inflammation and tissue destruction, leading to death in nearly all cases.
Live Events
Naegleria fowleri
's ability to adapt to various environments and its near-universal presence in warm freshwater underscores the importance of safe water practices, especially for activities that involve nasal exposure.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
42 minutes ago
- The Hindu
State public health lab develops molecular tests to identify deadly amoeba
The State Public Health Laboratory, one of the apex referral laboratories in the State, has developed its own molecular diagnostic test kits to identify five common species of free living amoeba (FLA) which are toxic to humans and which can cause amoebic meningoencephalitis. A highly fatal brain infection, cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis are being reported frequently in Kerala now. 'It was a proud moment for us when we identified Acanthamoeba spp. as the pathogenic organism in one of the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) samples that we received from the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College on Thursday. It was also the first human sample in which we could identify the organism, after we developed the molecular diagnostic test kits six months ago,' says S. Sunija, Director of the State PH Lab. Early identification of the pathogen and treatment are crucial for saving lives when it comes to amoebic meningoencephalitis. Now that the PH lab has developed its own molecular (PCR) assays for identifying the pathogenic organism in human samples, Kerala no longer needs to depend on prime diagnostic facilities outside the State, such as PGI Chandigarh, for confirmatory diagnosis of amoebic meningoencephalitis. Over 400 species Though there are over 400 species of free living amoeba in the environment, only six have been documented to be pathogenic to humans. The State PH lab is also the only lab which has the ability to identify five of these toxic organisms — Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., Vermamoeba vermiformis, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Paravahlkampfia francinae. 'Till now, through the microbiological examination of cerebrospinal fluid samples, we could make only a presumptive diagnosis that it was a trophozoite causing the encephalitis. Naegleria fowleri being the one that causes the most fatal disease, our protocol was to start the patient on the drug cocktail for N. fowleri immediately. But now that the pathogen can be identified and confirmed early, we can optimise the drugs and give targeted treatment to the patient without delay,' says R. Aravind, Head of Infectious Diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. To labs outside the State Ever since the State began reporting cases of amoebic encephalitis, the lack of confirmatory diagnosis for identifying the causative organism had been a huge challenge. Sending the samples to labs outside the State in proper condition and getting a diagnosis was time consuming. It was when cases began to be reported on a fairly regular basis — especially since the State issued a directive that all AES samples be tested for amoebic encephalitis too — that the State PH lab was assigned the task of developing molecular test kits for identifying the trophozoite. 'Free living amoeba is an ubiquitous organism found in the environment and till Thursday we had been testing only environmental samples. This is the first time we could identify Acanthamoeba in one of the patient samples,' Dr. Sunija says. However, testing water samples from the environment becomes important if the organism found in the human samples is Naegleria fowleri. In that case, the waterbody implicated will have to be tested and public warning issued to avoid it.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
No gym, no fees, only ChatGPT: Woman shares free AI apps for fitness diets, workouts, health tracking
In a growing shift towards tech-driven fitness solutions, a new trend is emerging — people are replacing traditional gym instructors with artificial intelligence. The combination of accessibility, customization, and cost-effectiveness has made AI tools an increasingly popular alternative to personal trainers. From building strength to managing diets, individuals are using free AI apps like ChatGPT to take full control of their health and fitness routines. Turning to AI for Fitness and Motivation For many, staying fit has long been tied to expensive gym memberships, group classes, and branded activewear. However, these costs don't always translate into consistent results. In one such case, a woman decided to rework her entire approach by using ChatGPT and other AI tools to manage her workouts, track progress, and design meal plans. She reported becoming stronger, leaner, and more self-disciplined — all while saving hundreds of dollars over time, as per Business Insider. Initially reliant on a gym instructor for motivation and structure, she experienced a drop in consistency when her trainer left. Attempts to switch gyms or test alternatives failed to yield long-term commitment. Despite trying habit-tracking methods and motivational purchases, her fitness goals remained out of reach until she decided to build her own routine with AI's support. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A brain tumor threatens his life. Please save him. Donate For Health Donate Now Undo ChatGPT and Free Apps That Deliver Results With prior experience using ChatGPT and Perplexity AI for daily tasks like recipes and trip planning, she repurposed the tool to create customized workout routines. Each week, she entered her progress and goals into ChatGPT and received updated training plans. This not only kept her accountable but also allowed her to adapt workouts based on her own feedback — something she hadn't achieved even with in-person trainers. She also turned to ChatGPT to better understand the science behind nutrition, including protein requirements for muscle growth. This led her to use additional free apps like Cronometer, which helped her track calories, macronutrients, and even micronutrients such as iron and vitamins. Another recommended app, Hevy, enabled her to log workout reps in real-time, while Gymmade offered animated demonstrations for weight training — giving her confidence in using equipment effectively. Within weeks, she began to notice tangible results. Her muscle tone improved, she doubled her lifting weight, and her energy levels increased. She even discontinued her gym membership in favor of using a free local outdoor facility. Importantly, the shift was not just physical but mental — she credited AI tools for helping her understand discipline, motivation, and habit formation more deeply. AI Fitness: Growing Popularity, But Caution Urged Her experience mirrors that of others. Siliguri-based Avirup Nag, who preferred vegetarian diet plans, and Mumbai's Shantanu Pednekar, who needed help with portion control, also found success using AI. New Delhi's Anjana PV used AI to modify her plan when dealing with physical discomfort and received tailored suggestions to adjust her workout without overexertion. For these users, AI acted like a virtual coach — offering structure, detailed feedback, and real-time guidance. Experts agree that AI has made it possible to personalise workouts based on individual goals and fitness levels. But they also caution users not to rely entirely on it. Fitness professionals like Kushal Pal Singh of Anytime Fitness note that while AI can create routines, it can't monitor form or prevent injury like a human trainer can. Benefits and Boundaries Users widely praise AI for being cost-effective and convenient. As Anjana pointed out, she was paying Rs 3,500 per month for a personal trainer before realizing AI was offering nearly identical guidance — for free. Still, health professionals warn that AI tools are only as good as the data provided to them. They may miss nuances such as movement issues, injury risks, or dietary preferences unless manually addressed. Nutritionist Muskan Soni highlighted that AI-generated meal plans often lack variety and fail to consider mental and physical health factors. This can lead to diet fatigue or plans that don't suit individual lifestyles. Despite its limitations, AI's ability to provide structure, research-backed information, and real-time adjustments has made it a powerful tool for self-driven fitness.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra reports 114 new COVID-19 cases; one more patient dies
As many as 114 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra, taking the count to 1,276 since January this year, while one more patient succumbed to the infection, pushing up the toll to 18, the state health department said on Friday. Of these cases, 44 were detected in Pune (42 in civic limits in two in rural areas), 37 in Mumbai and seven each in Mira Bhayandar and Panvel Municipal Corporation areas. They were followed by civic areas of Navi Mumbai (4), Pimpri-Chinchwad (6), Kalyan (3), Thane, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, Chatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani (one case each), a health department statement said. The department has conducted 15,510 COVID-19 tests since January, of which 1,276 were reported positive, it said. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Meanwhile, the total number of cases in Mumbai since January stood at 612, most of them were recorded in May, it said. One more patient has died since Thursday, taking the toll to 18. Of these, 17 patients suffered from comorbidities (simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions), said the department. Live Events Meanwhile, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli civic corporations released separate data and reported nine new COVID-19 cases in areas under jurisdiction. The number of active patients currently receiving treatment or under home observation across both civic bodies stood at 38, according to official data released by Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporations. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) registered 6 new cases, bringing the city's total case count to 137 since the beginning of the latest outbreak. In an official release, the TMC stated, "So far, 107 patients have been discharged, while the number of persons admitted to hospitals stood at 11. The city has registered one death so far." The neighbouring Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), in a separate release, said three new COVID-19 patients were detected in civic areas, taking the tally so far to 18. The death toll remained unchanged at three, it added.
