Latest news with #N.fowleri
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Flushing Sinuses
A woman in Texas has died from a rare brain infection after flushing her nose with water stored in the tank of a recreational vehicle. Lab tests on the 71-year-old woman's cerebrospinal fluid confirmed she was infected with Naegleria fowleri, a tiny, free-swimming protozoan also dubbed 'the brain-eating amoeba,' which causes the highly lethal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This killer bug hangs out in warm bodies of fresh water like ponds, lakes, and even neglected swimming pools. Most infections occur while swimming or engaging in water sports in these places. "The patient had no recreational exposure to fresh water; however, she had reportedly performed nasal irrigation on several occasions using non-boiled water from the RV potable water faucet during the four days before illness onset," a CDC case report details. "Despite medical treatment for a suspected PAM infection, the patient developed seizures and subsequently died eight days after symptom onset." Authorities were unable to detect the amoeba in samples from the RV tank or the campground water supply, which may be because they took samples 23 days after the possible exposure took place. But testing did indicate the water had inadequate levels of disinfectant to prevent microbes from building biofilm communities that can protect pathogens like N. fowleri. The water was more cloudy than what is recommended for drinking water, another sign that disinfectant levels may have been inadequate. This is why you really shouldn't flush tap (or RV tank) water up your nose for nasal irrigation: the CDC recommends only distilled or sterilized water be used. Because while N. fowleri likes things lukewarm, it really loves hotter liquids: the kinds sloshing around inside our bodies, for instance. When it enters a human body, N. fowleri passes a temperature threshold – about 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit – that transforms the bug from its flagellate state into an insatiable trophozoite, a form in which the microbe is actively feeding and reproducing. Any other entryway to the body, and N. fowleri will be politely escorted out by our immune system or burned up by stomach acids. But via the nose, it has an alarmingly straightforward route to the brain. This ravenous pathogen chews through the membrane we use to smell with, the olfactory epithelium, and follows the nerve fibers that carry scent signals back to our brains, nibbling at astrocytes and neurons along the way until it reaches its cerebral target. Most people infected with N. fowleri die within 1 to 18 days after symptoms start. Warning signs include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, which can progress to a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and hallucinations. While this disease is very rare, the prognosis is dire: of the 164 cases reported in the US between 1962 and 2023, only 4 people have survived. "This case reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards," the report states. The full CDC report is available here. Menopause Drug Reduces Breast Cancer Growth In Clinical Trial Bowel Cancer in Young People Is Rising – Here's How to Reduce Your Risk Why Do Some People Need Less Sleep? The Answer Lies in Our Genes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Brain-eating amoeba: How are people infected?
(WJW) — A 71-year-old woman died after developing a rare and deadly brain infection linked to using tap water from an RV's water system at a Texas campground, federal health officials confirmed. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the woman developed symptoms of primary amebic meningoencephalitis — a severe brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba — just four days after rinsing her sinuses with unboiled tap water from her recreational vehicle. Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses: CDC Testing at the CDC confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid. Naegleria fowleri, commonly called 'brain-eating amoeba,' is rare. There are only about 10 cases per year, according to the CDC, but it's almost always fatal. Naegleria fowleri infects people in only one way: when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose, according to the CDC. The amoeba then makes a bee line for the brain. Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri usually happen after a person goes swimming in fresh water during the summer months. The CDC said few infections have occurred when people used tap water that contained Naegleria fowleri to rinse their sinuses or clean their nasal passages. In the Texas case, health officials identified two possible sources of contamination. One was the RV's onboard water tank, which had been filled months earlier from an unknown location. The other was the municipal water supply at the campground, which was connected to the RV system via a hose and water filter. Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. Coli The woman rinsed her sinuses multiple times from both sources, according to the report. Early symptoms were fever, headache and a change in mental function, the CDC report showed. Despite receiving medical treatment, her condition rapidly worsened. She suffered seizures and died eight days after the onset of symptoms. The woman had no known exposure to freshwater lakes or rivers, which is the most common source of the amoeba. 'They like to grow in water,' Dr. Christine Alexander, chair of family medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center, told FOX 8 in a previous interview. 'Especially warm water.' Naegleria fowleri is naturally found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes and rivers, or hot springs, but can also be found in water discharge from industrial or power plants, geothermal well water, poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated swimming pools, water heaters and soil, according to CDC data. Father found dead, daughter missing after they went hiking on mountain in Maine People who become infected develop primary amebic meningoencephalitis. 'This is not like a bacterial infection, which we have antibiotics, or a viral infection where we have antivirals,' Alexander said. 'We don't have medicine to get rid of the amoeba.' Naegleria fowleri is typically found in warm water with temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the CDC said. According to the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Naegleria fowleri grows best in high temperatures of up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Though Lake Erie is a freshwater environment, the lake's temperature rarely gets high enough to create a viable growth environment for the amoeba, and it's never been observed there, according to the health department. Bear spotted in Trumbull County backyard Lake Erie water temperatures have reached as high as 85 degrees. However, summertime water temperatures usually stay in the 70s and rarely get above 75 degrees, according to the health department. In hot, sunny weather, chlorine can break down and be less effective at splash pads and pools, according to the health department. Still, the CDC said infections from splash pads are extremely rare. Cases have been documented in nearly half of all U.S. states, and there were an estimated 160 deaths between 1962 and 2023, the CDC reported. To this date, no one has ever gotten infected in Ohio. See the cases here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Woman, 71, dies from brain-eating infection days after rinsing her nose with tap water
Find out everything you need to know about the infection below DEADLY BUG Woman, 71, dies from brain-eating infection days after rinsing her nose with tap water A PREVIOUSLY healthy woman died after contracting a brain-eating infection - believed to have been caused by tap water. The 71-year-old from Texas, whose identity hasn't been disclosed, is thought to have fallen victim to an amoeba, a single-celled organism. 2 The woman contracted an amoeba after using tap water from an RV's system at a campground Credit: Getty After she died last year, it was suggested she'd contracted the infection after using tap water from an RV's system at a campground to rinse her sinuses. The amoeba she was infected by is Naegleria fowleri, known as the brain-eating amoeba, which thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs, according to a report in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Texas investigators said the woman developed severe neurological symptoms, including fever, headache, and an altered mental state, within four days of using a nasal irrigation device filled with the tap water. Despite medical treatment for suspected primary amoebic meningoencephalitis - a rare but severe and usually fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri - she developed seizures and later died eight days after her symptoms first appeared. A follow-up epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services found the woman had no recreational exposure to fresh water, such as swimming. But she had reportedly performed nasal irrigation several times using non-boiled water from the RV water faucet during the four days before she fell ill. Two potential water sources for the N. fowleri infection were suggested. The first was the RV's water tank for drinking, which flowed directly to the faucets and shower. The tank had been filled with water collected on an unknown date before the patient bought the RV three months earlier. The second possible source of contamination was the municipal water system, which was connected by a hose and water filter to the RV's potable water system. Boy, 8, dies within hours of complaining of a headache when normally harmless flu infection spread to his brain To explore these potential sources further, investigators collected 12 environmental samples. These included samples from the squirt bottle that the woman used for nasal rinsing, water from the RV water heater, swabs from the shower head and bathroom and kitchen sink faucets, water from the RV's potable water tank, and water from the campsite's municipal water supply. The scientists didn't find N. fowleri DNA or viable amoeba in the samples, but they found the water supply wasn't adequately disinfected. The authors wrote: "This case reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards." Despite the alarming incident, The Texas Department of State Health Services reassured the public the area's tap water remains safe to drink. They emphasised infections from amoebas are extremely rare and can only infect humans through the nose. 2 Sinus rinsing is popular for relieving sinus congestion and respiratory issues Credit: Getty Sinus rinsing, also known as nasal irrigation or sinus flushing, is popular for relieving sinus congestion and other respiratory issues. It's generally recommended to use boiled and cooled water for sinus rinsing, along with distilled or sterile water. Boiling water kills bacteria and other microorganisms that may be present in tap water, reducing the risk of infection. It's also advised to avoid water entering your nasal passages in general, especially when swimming or engaging in water activities.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Woman dies from brain-eating infection after using tap water to wash nose
A 71-year-old woman has died after contracting a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after she used tap water to rinse her sinuses A 71 year old woman from Texas tragically lost her life to a brain-eating infection, believed to have been contracted from tap water. The unfortunate woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, is thought to have fallen victim to an amoeba, a single-celled organism. The county health department suggests she likely picked up the infection after using tap water from an RV's system at a campground to rinse her sinuses. Despite the alarming incident, The Texas Department of State Health Services has reassured the public that the local tap water remains safe for consumption. They emphasised that such infections are exceedingly rare and can only enter the human body through the nose. However, this tragic case has sparked debate among experts. According to the Daily Mail it "reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards." In the United States, deaths caused by brain-eating amoebas are few and far between, usually affecting individuals who have been swimming in warm freshwater bodies like lakes and rivers. The deadly amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, has a high fatality rate, claiming the lives of approximately 97% of those infected. Only a minuscule number of Americans have survived an encounter with this lethal organism, reports the Express. Texas has emerged as a hotspot for fatalities, ranking among the states with the highest number of amoeba infection cases in US history. A staggering 39 out of the recorded 160 cases have occurred in this state. The microscopic organism is almost always lethal, causing a disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or amebic meningitis. Initial symptoms include headache, vomiting and nausea, but as the infection advances, it can lead to cognitive decline, stiff neck and light sensitivity. In its later stages, the illness causes severe swelling and decay of the brain and spinal cord, which typically results in death. Alarmingly, there are currently no known treatments for the condition. In the tragic case from Texas, a woman developed severe neurological symptoms within just four days of infection after using a nasal irrigation device filled with contaminated tap water. She experienced fever, headache and altered mental status. Despite medics' best efforts to stabilise her condition, she developed seizures and sadly passed away just eight days after the onset of symptoms. Following her death, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the presence of in the patient's brain and spinal fluid. In the US, only three instances are typically reported annually, predominantly during the warmer months when many families flock to lakes and ponds for a refreshing dip. The amoeba, which is 1200 times tinier than a US dime coin, infiltrates the body through the olfactory nerve by swimming up an individual's nose while they're in the water. This provides it with a direct pathway to the brain, where the infection can then establish itself. The duration it takes for the disease to advance varies among individuals, but symptoms usually manifest anywhere from one to nine days post-infection, with death typically ensuing within five days. Despite the amoeba's extreme rarity, the public is still urged to refrain from swimming in untreated water this summer, particularly in popular holiday destinations like Florida where temperatures can soar rapidly. Fortunately, as the amoeba exclusively inhabits fresh water, ocean swimming is generally deemed safe.
