Latest news with #TexasDepartmentofStateHealthServices
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Woman Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Rinsing Sinuses with Tap Water
A healthy Texas woman, 71, developed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) due to Naegleria fowleri, or brain-eating amoeba She contracted the infection after using a nasal irrigation device with tap water from an RV and died 8 days after symptoms began Health officials warn that rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages should only be done using sterile waterA Texas woman has died from Naegleria fowleri, or brain-eating amoeba, after rinsing her sinuses with tap water, according to a new report. The report — published May 29 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — revealed that a 71-year-old previously healthy woman developed severe symptoms four days after using a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RV's water system at a campground in Texas. The woman experienced severe neurologic symptoms, including fever, headache, and an altered mental state. Despite medical treatment, she later developed seizures and died 8 days after symptoms began. The CDC stated that investigators with the Texas Department of State Health Services found the presence of Naegleria fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid following lab testing. Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as brain-eating amoeba, is a single-celled living organism that can cause a rare and almost always fatal infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). According to a CDC report, only four people in the U.S. out of 164 from 1962 until 2023 have survived the infection. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Brain-eating amoeba is most commonly found in warm fresh waters such as lakes, rivers and hot springs. It also resides in poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated swimming pools, staying in these habitats to feed on bacteria. Symptoms of brain-eating amoeba generally start one to nine days after nasal exposure and many people die within 18 days of showing symptoms, according to the CDC. These include severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting in the first stage and stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status, hallucinations and a coma in the second stage. Health officials note that 'nasal irrigation using tap water remains the suspected route of exposure' in this case. '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 CDC assured that infections of brain-eating amoeba only arise when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. The agency notes that when rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages, store-brought water that is labeled 'distilled' or 'sterile' should be used. Tap water can be used only if it has been boiled for at least 1 minute and cooled beforehand. Using water that has gone through a Brita water filter is also not sufficient — it's still tap water, and is not sterile. "It has to be sterile water," Dr. Travis Stork, an ER physician, host of The Doctors and a member of PEOPLE's Health Squad, previously explained. "These amoeba infections are rare but not unheard of, which is why the water must be sterile. Always follow directions!" Read the original article on People
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Woman Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Rinsing Sinuses with Tap Water
A healthy Texas woman, 71, developed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) due to Naegleria fowleri, or brain-eating amoeba She contracted the infection after using a nasal irrigation device with tap water from an RV and died 8 days after symptoms began Health officials warn that rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages should only be done using sterile waterA Texas woman has died from Naegleria fowleri, or brain-eating amoeba, after rinsing her sinuses with tap water, according to a new report. The report — published May 29 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — revealed that a 71-year-old previously healthy woman developed severe symptoms four days after using a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RV's water system at a campground in Texas. The woman experienced severe neurologic symptoms, including fever, headache, and an altered mental state. Despite medical treatment, she later developed seizures and died 8 days after symptoms began. The CDC stated that investigators with the Texas Department of State Health Services found the presence of Naegleria fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid following lab testing. Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as brain-eating amoeba, is a single-celled living organism that can cause a rare and almost always fatal infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). According to a CDC report, only four people in the U.S. out of 164 from 1962 until 2023 have survived the infection. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Brain-eating amoeba is most commonly found in warm fresh waters such as lakes, rivers and hot springs. It also resides in poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated swimming pools, staying in these habitats to feed on bacteria. Symptoms of brain-eating amoeba generally start one to nine days after nasal exposure and many people die within 18 days of showing symptoms, according to the CDC. These include severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting in the first stage and stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status, hallucinations and a coma in the second stage. Health officials note that 'nasal irrigation using tap water remains the suspected route of exposure' in this case. '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 CDC assured that infections of brain-eating amoeba only arise when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. The agency notes that when rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages, store-brought water that is labeled 'distilled' or 'sterile' should be used. Tap water can be used only if it has been boiled for at least 1 minute and cooled beforehand. Using water that has gone through a Brita water filter is also not sufficient — it's still tap water, and is not sterile. "It has to be sterile water," Dr. Travis Stork, an ER physician, host of The Doctors and a member of PEOPLE's Health Squad, previously explained. "These amoeba infections are rare but not unheard of, which is why the water must be sterile. Always follow directions!" Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas woman died after rinsing sinuses with infected tap water — here's how to keep yourself safe
A 71-year-old woman reportedly contracted a brain infection from using tap water — and died from it. Regardless of whether tap water is safe to consume where you live, experts advise against letting it go into your sinuses — or you risk being exposed to a brain-eating condition, like this unidentified woman. According to the CDC, if water contains amoeba — single-celled organisms — and it gets into a person's nose, it can travel to the brain and cause the fatal infection, commonly known as 'brain-eating amoeba' but the technical term for it is Naegleria fowleri, which is what most likely happened to this woman. Although the Texas Department of State Health Services claims that the sink water in the area is safe to consume, they believe the woman rinsed her sinuses from an RV's water system at a campground and was infected by Naegleria fowleri, as explained by the Daily Mail. The condition — typically found in warm water lakes and rivers — is rare, but it's deadly — killing almost 97% of people who contract it. The CDC reported 157 confirmed cases in the nation between 1962 and 2022. And reportedly, Texas is one of the few US states that has the largest number of amoeba cases. In addition to Texas, Florida has also fallen victim to this terrifying infection. In 2023, a Florida woman contracted the brain-eating infection the same way the Texas woman did — and died from it. 'The adult patient reportedly performed nasal rinsing daily with unboiled tap water, which is thought to be the source of the infection,' the CDC said in a statement to Fox 4. Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri start to show up about 15 days after a person has been exposed. They can range from a mild fever, headache, nausea and vomiting — to more severe ones like a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention, loss of balance and seizures. Unfortunately, once a person has been exposed and severely infected — even with treatment, most will die from it. Regardless of where someone lives and the quality of their area's tap water — to avoid any potential exposure to this serious condition, experts recommend boiling water before rinsing sinuses with it or using distilled water, avoid going underwater in a bathtub or freshwater. It's also recommended to supervise children playing with sprinklers, and if you haven't been home in a few days, let water run for several minutes in sinks or showers to flush out stagnant water.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Deadly Summer Heat: How Quickly Temperatures Rise Inside Vehicles
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — As the Texas summer begins to scorch, health and safety officials are warning parents and caregivers about the life-threatening risk of leaving children inside hot vehicles — even for just a few minutes. In 2024, 39 children across the United States died from heatstroke after being left in hot cars. Three of those deaths occurred in Texas, data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows. 'When it comes to children being left in vehicles, it's against the law to leave children younger than 7 years of age unattended in a vehicle unless they are accompanied by someone 14 years of age or older,' said Justin Baker with the Texas Department of Public Safety. 'Now the law on that is a Class C misdemeanor, and so again it can be punishable with a hefty fine — but more importantly, it's about saving that life.' Most hot car deaths are unintentional, often the result of a change in routine or a moment of forgetfulness, according to experts. 'It's important to make sure you give yourself reminders — check your vehicle before you get out, especially if you've changed your routine,' Baker said. 'That's when you really have to set those reminders.' A demonstration in San Angelo showed just how quickly temperatures can become deadly. With the outside temperature at 91 degrees, a parked vehicle was left for just 10 minutes with the windows slightly cracked. When checked again, the interior had already reached 100 degrees. Children are especially vulnerable in this kind of heat. Their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult's. Once a child's internal temperature hits 104°F, major organs begin shutting down. At 107°F, heatstroke can quickly become fatal. And while some incidents are caused by forgetfulness, others stem from the belief that a short errand will only take a minute. Officials say you should act immediately if you encounter a child or pet alone in a parked car and they appear to be in distress. 'So if you find yourself in that situation where you see a child or a pet unattended in a vehicle and it's obviously again very hot, it looks like they have been there awhile — one, call 9-1-1 immediately, we want to get some first responders en route,' Baker said. 'But two, you can take action in the Good Samaritan Law where you can break out a window if it comes down to saving the life of a human or a pet.' To help prevent hot car deaths, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) encourages the public to remember the acronym A-C-T: As the heat continues to rise across Texas in 2025, officials urge drivers to stay alert, build new habits, and never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Record
21 hours 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.
