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SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
What to know about the rare 'brain-eating' amoeba found in Australian tap water
One of the world's most dangerous water-borne microorganisms, commonly called a "brain-eating amoeba", has recently been detected in two drinking water supplies in south-west Queensland. Both affected towns are about 750 kilometres west of Brisbane: Augathella (population roughly 300) and Charleville (population 3,000). During an analysis of water samples commissioned by Queensland Health, Naegleria fowleri was detected in the water systems of two health facilities, one in Charleville and one in Augathella, as well as in the incoming town water supply at both facilities. The Shire Council of Murweh, which takes in the two affected locations, issued a health notice for residents and visitors on August 7 warning of the detection of N. fowleri in the water supplies. So what is this organism? And how significant is the risk likely to be in these Queensland towns, and elsewhere? What is the brain-eating amoeba? The N. fowleri amoeba is a microscopic organism found around the world. It only lives in warm freshwater, generally between 25 and 40°C. This can include ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and hot springs. If someone is infected with N. fowleri , it causes what's called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a serious infection of the brain. Symptoms include a sore throat, headache, hallucinations, confusion, vomiting, fever, neck stiffness, changes to taste and smell, and seizures. The incubation period of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis — the time between infection and symptoms appearing — typically ranges from three to seven days. Tragically, this illness is nearly always fatal, even if someone receives medical attention quickly. Death typically occurs about five days after symptoms begin. Fortunately though, cases are very rare. In the United States, there were 167 reported cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis between 1962 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only four survived. A global review of the disease up to 2018 reported that, of 381 known cases, Australia accounted for 22, the fifth highest number, after the US, Pakistan, Mexico and India. Some 92 per cent of people died. How do people get infected? The route of infection is very unusual and quite specific. N. fowleri infects the brain through a person's nose. The amoeba then passes through a protective membrane called the nasal epithelium. This is an important physical barrier and allows the amoeba to travel to the brain through the olfactory nerve, which is responsible for our sense of smell. The infection then kills brain tissue and causes swelling of the brain, termed cerebral oedema. Infections occur in people when infected water travels up their nose. Most cases involve children and young people who have swum in infected waters. The majority of cases occur in males, with an average age of 14. Even water sports in affected waterways can be dangerous. A person is currently in intensive care in Missouri after it's believed they became infected while water skiing. Regarding the recent detection in Queensland water supply systems, the source of the infection has not been reported. It's possible a fresh waterway, or groundwater, which feeds into the affected drinking water systems, was contaminated with N. fowleri , and the amoeba travelled from there. But this will likely be determined with further investigation. Is it dangerous in drinking water? First, it's important to note you can't get primary amoebic meningoencephalitis from drinking contaminated water. But any activity that allows infected water to enter a person's nose is potentially dangerous. This can happen during a bath or a shower. Some people flush their nasal passages to clear congestion related to allergies or a viral infection. This has been linked to infections with N. fowleri . If you're going to flush your nasal passages, you should use a sterile saline solution. Even young children playing with hoses, sprinklers or water activities could be at risk. A 16-month-old child was fatally infected following an incident involving a contaminated water "splash pad" in the US in 2023. Splash pads are water-based recreation activities, primarily for young children, that involve splashing or spraying water. What is the risk in Queensland? Regarding N. fowleri , Australian drinking water guidelines advise: "If the organism is detected, advice should be sought from the relevant health authority or drinking water regulator." The guidelines also provide recommendations on how to disinfect water supplies and control N. fowleri , using chlorine and other chemical compounds. All public town water supplies across Australia are regularly tested to ensure that water is safe to drink. We don't yet know the exact cause of the detection of the amoeba N. fowleri in these Queensland towns' water supplies. But drinking or cooking with water contaminated with this amoeba will not cause an infection. Any activity that allows potentially contaminated water to go up the nose should be navigated carefully for now in the affected areas. Contamination of a town drinking water supply from this amoeba is very rare and is unlikely in other Australian town water supplies. To reduce your risk in potentially infected warm, fresh waters you should keep your head above water while swimming. And don't jump or dive in. You can use a nose-clip if you want to swim with your head under water. The amoeba cannot survive in salt water, so there's no risk swimming in the ocean. Also, properly maintained swimming pools should be safe from the organism. New South Wales Health advises that the amoeba cannot survive in water that is clean, cool and adequately chlorinated.
News.com.au
12-08-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Urgent health alert issued for outback towns of Augathella, Charleville after deadly parasite found in shire's water supply
A potentially deadly organism known to cause a fatal brain infection has been detected in a southwest Queensland shire's water supply, prompting an urgent health warning. 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.
Daily Mail
12-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie towns on edge after disturbing discovery is made in TAP WATER that could cause a very painful death
A dangerous organism has been detected in the water supply in a south-west Queensland shire, with residents warned it can cause a fatal brain infection. The potentially dangerous single cell organism called Naegleria fowleri was detected in the drinking water supply that supports Charleville and Augathella. The amoeba occurs naturally in bodies of fresh water that have been stagnant between 25C and 40C. Although the organism can cause fatal brain infections, authorities say there is no risk when the water is used for drinking, cooking, or washing clothes. The only time it can be a hazard is when untreated water enters the nose and travels up to the brain. Charleville and Augathella are part of the Murweh Shire, which has a population of over 4,000 residents. Queensland recorded its last case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis over ten years ago, with the state's health department confirming the water was safe to drink. 'There is minimal risk to the community as long as people don't allow water to go up their nose when bathing, showering or washing their face,' a Queensland Health spokesman said. Parents have been advised to make sure their children do not get water up their noses as they are more vulnerable to infection. They have been urged to avoid putting their heads underwater in pools filled with town water and to not use the water for nasal irrigation. More than five cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis have been confirmed across Australia since the year 2000. One probable case was detected in Queensland and, in each of the cases recorded in the country this millennium, the infected person died. Three children have died from the infection in north-west Queensland with the most recent case being a one-year-old from Richmond in 2015. Symptoms usually develop within three to seven days of infection. They include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, sleepiness, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, taste and smell disturbances, and seizures. Murweh Shire chief executive Bruce Scott said the local council was seeking answers and urged residents to remain calm. 'This public health risk is very new to council too, but we hope to have a suitably qualified person/s … to provide answers where possible,' he wrote. 'Please observe the advice provided, and council is seeking your assistance to help spread the word on how to manage this risk sensibly and reassure people to remain calm until the public health unit, the water regulator and council can provide a mitigation strategy.' Murweh Shire Council is conducting water testing to determine the extent of the contamination.
ABC News
11-08-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Potentially deadly brain-eating amoeba found in Charleville, Augathella's water supply
A rare and potentially dangerous brain-eating amoeba has been detected in a south-west Queensland shire's drinking water supply. The Murweh Shire Council issued a public health notice after recent testing found Naegleria fowleri in the drinking water supply for Charleville and Augathella. The hazardous amoeba occurs naturally in untreated fresh water and soil, preferring temperatures between 25 degrees Celsius and 40C. It can cause a very rare but serious brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis that is nearly always fatal. Infection cannot occur from drinking, cooking, or washing clothes in contaminated water. It only occurs when untreated water enters the nose and reaches the brain. There have been no new recorded cases of infection, with the most recent in Queensland more than 10 years ago. A Queensland Health spokesperson said the town's water supply remains safe to drink. "There is minimal risk to the community as long as people don't allow water to go up their nose when bathing, showering or washing their face," the spokesperson said. Queensland Health has urged residents to supervise children to ensure water does not go up their noses, not to put heads underwater in pools filled with town water, and to avoid using water for nasal irrigation. Since 2000, there have been five confirmed cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Australia and one probable case in Queensland, each resulting in deaths. Children and young people are more susceptible to the infection. Three children in north-west Queensland have died from the infection, most recently a one-year-old from Richmond in 2015. Symptoms usually develop within three to seven days of infection by Naegleria fowleri. They include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, sleepiness, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, disturbances of taste and smell, and seizures. Murweh Shire chief executive Bruce Scott issued a statement over the weekend urging people to remain calm until there was more information. "This public health risk is very new to council too, but we hope to have a suitably qualified person/s … to provide answers where possible," he wrote. "Please observe the advice provided, and council is seeking your assistance to help spread the word on how to manage this risk sensibly and reassure people to remain calm until the public health unit, the water regulator and council can provide a mitigation strategy." Murweh Shire Council is conducting water testing to determine the extent of the contamination.
