Urgent health alert issued for outback towns of Augathella, Charleville after deadly parasite found in shire's water supply
In a community health notice on August 7, the Murweh Shire Council announced Naegleria fowleri – a single-cell amoeba – had been detected in the drinking water supplying the towns of Augathella and Charleville.
The towns had populations of 393 and 3971 respectively, according to the 2021 Census.
Queensland Health says Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that occurs naturally in warm freshwater and soils across Australia.
Infections generally occur when water containing the amoeba enters the nose under pressure.
It can potentially lead to a rare - but fatal - disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) when it travels to the brain.
'Naegleria fowleri is not infectious via drinking or skin contact,' the council's public health notice states.
Murweh Shire Council chief executive Bruce Scott said the drinking water in both Augathella and Charleville was still safe for human consumption and it was not necessary to boil water for drinking, food preparation or for personal hygiene.
'As a precaution, the council is currently arranging the collection of further water samples to identify the extent of Naegleria fowleri colonisation in the drinking water supplies serving the communities of Charleville and Augathella,' Mr Scott said.
'Samples will also be collected from the Morven supply as a precaution.'
A fact sheet issued by Queensland Health in relation to the detection confirmed the department was not aware of any illnesses attributable to the drinking water supply in either Charleville or Augathella.
The detection of the organism followed a comprehensive water quality project commissioned by Queensland Health and undertaken by a university, which involved specialised testing not typically conducted by local water service providers.
It marks the first-known confirmation of Naegleria fowleri in both towns' water supplies.
But the risk of its presence still exists in unchlorinated water sourced from the Great Artesian Basin, especially where water cools below 40C.
Six Queenslanders have died from complications caused by Naegleria fowleri since 2000 – all from private water suppliers where property owners bear the full responsibility for the supply and management of their own drinking water.
The first symptoms of Naegleria fowleri start about five days after exposure, but can vary between one and 12 days.
Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting and can progress to stiff neck, confusion, inattention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations and coma.
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