Latest news with #Lake of the Ozarks
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Missouri resident hospitalized with 'brain-eating' infection possibly linked to water skiing, officials say
A Missouri resident has been hospitalized with what health officials described as a deadly "brain-eating infection" after possibly waterskiing in a local lake. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in a Wednesday news release that the patient — who they have not identified — appears to have been exposed to a Naegleria fowleri. The agency described Naegleria fowleri as "a microscopic single-celled free-living ameba that can cause a rare, deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as 'brain-eating' infection." Health officials said that a preliminary investigation suggests that the patient may have been water skiing in the Lake of the Ozarks, a reservoir in central Missouri, days before becoming ill. Naegleria fowleri is commonly found in freshwater, according to the agency, but PAM is "extremely rare." The ameba is typically ingested through the nose and travels up to the brain, where it damages the brain tissue, the agency added. "Recreational water users should assume that Naegleria fowleri is present in warm freshwater across the United States; however, infection remains very rare," the agency said. The health agency said that between 1962 and 2024, there were only 167 reported cases of the infection in the United States. Last month, 12-year-old Jaysen Carr died from contracting PAM days after swimming in Lake Murray in South Carolina, according to a statement the law firm representing Carr's family posted on Facebook. "We stand beside this family not only to seek the truth, but to help ensure no other family endures a loss like this," the Bailey Law Firm said. Early symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that most people with PAM die within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin, and that the infection typically leads to coma and death within five days. The Missouri HHS advised that residents "avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high-water temperature," use nose clamps, and avoid putting their heads underwater. It also suggested avoiding the excavation of wet sediment, as "Naegleria fowleri amebas are more likely to live in sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers." This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Swimmer contracts brain-eating amoeba spreading in water... are YOU at risk?
A person has been hospitalized in Missouri after contracting a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba from swimming in a popular local lake. No name or age has been released for the patient, but the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services stated that exposure likely occurred at the Lake of the Ozarks. They had been waterskiing at the popular recreational spot before becoming sick with symptoms related to a Naegleria fowleri infection. Health officials say the patient, currently hospitalized in St. Louis, is only the third person in Missouri to contract the amoeba since the state began keeping records in 1962. The two other cases were reported in 1987 and 2022. Naegleria fowleri is commonly called a brain-eating amoeba because it causes a brain infection that is typically fatal. Official records show 164 people in the US were infected with the disease between 1962 and 2023, of which only four survived. Experts now warn that cases of Naegleria fowleri appear to be becoming more common and expanding to the northern US due to climate change. They say warmer weather creates the perfect breeding ground for the amoeba. Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and public health at the University of Arizona, told Live Science: 'What you might see is spikes in these organisms after an extreme weather event. 'So the more nutrients in the water, the more bacteria you'll get. We're seeing it creeping up to states further and further north all the time.' The Missouri lake where the latest case has emerged is a man-made reservoir created in 1931 with the completion of Bagnell Dam on the Osage River. Today, it draws tens of thousands of visitors with dozens of picturesque swimming spots, along with fishing and watersports activities. There had been no prior warnings about the lake being contaminated with bacteria or other harmful organisms and health experts say that despite the recent incident, there is not an elevated risk associated with the body of water. To reduce the risk of infection in warm freshwater health officials have advised swimmers to hold their noses shut, to keep their heads above water, to avoid activities in the water during periods of high temperatures and to avoid digging sediment. The US only suffers a handful of deaths from brain-eating amoebas each year, usually among people swimming in warm water lakes and rivers. Texas is among the states that have suffered the largest burden of brain-eating amoeba cases, with 39 of the 164 cases recorded in the US occurring in the Lone Star state. The single-cell organism, which thrives in warm waters, kills 97 percent of the people it infects as it causes a disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, also known as PAM or amebic meningitis. Initial symptoms include a headache, vomiting and nausea. A person can then suffer cognitive issues and a stiff neck as things progress. It causes severe swelling, and eventually rotting, of the brain and spinal cord. This will almost always eventually lead to death. There are no known effective treatments for PAM. Only several Americans have ever survived after being infected with Naegleria fowleri. This includes Caleb Ziegelbauer from Florida, who was 13 years old at the time he was infected by the microscopic species. Caleb is now walking somewhat but the damage done to his brain means he needs to communicate with facial expressions and has to use a wheelchair. Officials believe the South Carolina child was infected while swimming in a local lake. The incident is not the first case of a Naegleria fowleri infection in South Carolina and there have also been other deaths linked to to the organism over recent years. In June, a 71-year-old woman from Texas contracted an infection and died from Naegleria fowleri after she rinsed her sinuses with tap water from an RV's water system at a campground. And in 2023, a 16-month-old toddler from Arkansas died after coming into contact with the same one-celled organism at a water playground with fountains and jets. The amoeba, which is 1,200 times smaller than a dime, enters the body through the olfactory nerve which connects the upper nose to the brain. What is Naegleria fowleri? Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that 'literally eats the brain tissue,' according to Dr Anjan Debnath, a parasitic disease expert at the University of California, San Diego. It thrives in warm climates in freshwater including hot springs and lakes. Improper water treatment in pools, private ponds and even tap water can lead to deadly exposure to the amoeba as well. The amoeba travels up the nose where it has a direct route to the brain. Once a person's olfactory nerve in the nose is exposed, symptoms typically come on within one to nine days. Those who are infected will usually die within five days of symptoms first appearing. Early stage symptoms resemble those of the flu. Symptoms as the infection worsens include severe neurological issues like seizures, hallucinations, confusion, and coma. This gives it a short and direct route into the brain. If water containing the amoeba enters the nose, it will likely lead to infection. Ingesting water through the mouth is ok because stomach acid is strong enough to kill the amoeba. The nose is its only route. Once a person's olfactory nerve is exposed, it can take around one to nine days to start experiencing symptoms. They will usually die within five days of symptoms first appearing. 'It's quite rapid, it's very progressive. It literally eats the brain tissue,' Dr Anjan Debnath, a parasitologist at the University of California San Diego, explained. Because of the rare infection, doctors also often misdiagnose symptoms as meningitis - wasting valuable time that could be used to treat the parasite. Dr Debnath describes the infection as taking part in two stages. The first is relatively minor, with the person experiencing a headache and other flu-like symptoms. This means that unless a doctor knows that a person has been swimming in untreated water they may not even suspect the amoeba. Once symptoms reach the second stage, a person will start experiencing severe neurological issues like seizures. A doctor will then likely find out about the infection through a spinal fluid test. America suffers around three cases of the amoeba each year. They will almost always occur over summer, when many families flock to local lakes and ponds for a daytime outing. Dr Debnath still advises against swimming in untreated water over summer, especially in places like Florida and Texas where temperatures get exceptionally high. Because the amoeba only resides in fresh water, swimming in the ocean is generally safe. If families do choose to visit a freshwater beach, anyone entering the water should wear a nose clip to prevent water from entering their nose. Dr Debnath also recommends against kicking up dirt or sand from the bottom of the lake as warmer areas deep down are where the microscopic beings usually lie.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Missouri confirms case of rare brain-eating amoeba infection
A person in Missouri has been hospitalized after contracting a brain-eating amoeba, possibly after water skiing in the Lake of the Ozarks, state health officials said Wednesday. The patient, who was not identified, is being treated in an intensive care unit for an infection of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said. Public health officials are still investigating the source of the infection, but the Health Department said the patient became ill days after they were at the lake. There are two public beaches open to visitors at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, according to the park's website. The Health Department did not specify which beach the patient had gone to. While the Naegleria fowleri organism is common in warm freshwater, the infection — called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM — is rare, health officials say. It occurs when water is forced up the nose and is able to cross into the brain, which can happen during recreational freshwater activities. Between 1962 and 2024, there have been 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said. Last month, 12-year-old Jaysen Carr died in South Carolina after getting infected. The South Carolina Department of Public Health said it was the first known case in the state since 2016. The family of Jaysen Carr later spoke publicly about their son's death, saying they "do not want this to happen to anyone else." To reduce the risk of infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests holding your nose or wearing a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into freshwater or keeping your head above water in hot springs. Signs of infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, a severe headache, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental state and hallucinations. You cannot get a Naegleria fowleri infection from swallowing contaminated water or from someone else who is infected. President Trump says meeting with Russia's Putin is not to broker peace deal in Ukraine Tropical Storm Erin expected to become a major hurricane Could Tropical Storm Erin become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025? Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Rare brain-eating amoeba infection possibly linked to water skiing confirmed in Missouri
A person in Missouri has been hospitalized after contracting a brain-eating amoeba, possibly after water skiing in the Lake of the Ozarks, state health officials said Wednesday. The patient, who was not identified, is being treated in an intensive care unit for an infection of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said. Public health officials are still investigating the source of the infection, but the Health Department said the patient became ill days after they were at the lake. There are two public beaches open to visitors at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, according to the park's website. The Health Department did not specify which beach the patient had gone to. While the Naegleria fowleri organism is common in warm freshwater, the infection — called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM — is rare, health officials say. It occurs when water is forced up the nose and is able to cross into the brain, which can happen during recreational freshwater activities. Between 1962 and 2024, there have been 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said. Last month, 12-year-old Jaysen Carr died in South Carolina after getting infected. The South Carolina Department of Public Health said it was the first known case in the state since 2016. The family of Jaysen Carr later spoke publicly about their son's death, saying they "do not want this to happen to anyone else." To reduce the risk of infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests holding your nose or wearing a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into freshwater or keeping your head above water in hot springs. Signs of infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, a severe headache, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental state and hallucinations. You cannot get a Naegleria fowleri infection from swallowing contaminated water or from someone else who is infected.
