Urgent health alert issued after deadly parasite discovered in water supplies across rural Queensland towns
The Murweh Shire Council said Naegleria fowleri – a single cell amoeba – has been detected in the drinking water of the towns of Augathella and Charleville.
Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater environments and soil across Australia.
Only one species in this family of organisms is known to cause illness to humans.
Infections could occur when water containing the amoeba travels through the nose under pressure.
It could lead to a rare and fatal disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) when it gets to the brain.
'Naegleria fowleri is not infectious via drinking or skin contact,' the council's public health notice said.
Early symptoms include vomiting, nausea, fever, headache and can lead to stiff neck, seizures, hallucinations and coma.
According to the 2021 Census, 328 people live in Augathella and 3,971 reside in Charleville.
Murweh Shire Council CEO Bruce Scott said drinking water in both towns was still safe to consume and 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.'
As the council and Queensland Health continue to monitor the situation, residents are urged to follow precautions to minimise any chance of infection.
'Do not allow water to go up your nose when bathing, showering or washing your face,' the health notice warned.
'Don't put your head under water when bathing or swimming in pools filled with town water that has not been adequately chlorinated.
'Avoid slip-n-slides and other activities where it is difficult to prevent water from going up the nose.'
The detection of the organism was discovered by Queensland Health and a university after they conducted comprehensive water quality projects, requiring specialised testing not typically conducted by local water service providers.
This marks the first-known confirmation of the parasite in both towns' water supplies.
Six Queenslanders have died from complications caused by Naegleria fowleri since 2000.
The deaths all came from private water suppliers where property owners are responsible for the supply and management of their own drinking water.
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