Latest news with #MurwehShireCouncil
Sky News AU
12-08-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Urgent health alert issued after deadly parasite discovered in water supplies across rural Queensland towns
An urgent health warning has been issued after a potentially deadly parasite known to cause a fatal brain infection was found in a south-west Queensland's shire's water supply. 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.
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.
Perth Now
12-08-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Deadly parasite found in Aussie towns' water
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. A community health notice from the Murweh Shire Council announced Naegleria fowleri – a single-cell amoeba – had been detected in the drinking water supplying the towns of Augathella (pictured) and Charleville. Supplied Credit: News Regional Media 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. The council has said the drinking water is still safe to consume as infection from the organism only occurs through the nose. Outback Queensland Credit: Supplied 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.
