Florida Resident Infected with "Brain-Eating" Amoeba through Tap Water, Officials Say
Health officials in Charlotte County, Florida, have reported that a person has been infected with a rare single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating" amoeba. The amoeba destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal, with a 97% mortality rate. While the water supply in the area is still considered safe to drink, officials believe the person contracted the infection by rinsing their sinuses with tap water. The Naegleria fowleri amoeba is rare and can only infect humans through the nose. Symptoms of infection include fever, nausea, and vomiting, which can quickly progress to more severe symptoms like seizures and hallucinations. The CDC has reported a total of 31 Naegleria fowleri infections in the US between 2012 and 2021, with infections occurring when water containing the amoeba enters through the nose while swimming, diving in fresh water lakes, or cleaning sinuses with tap water. To prevent infection, officials recommend that residents only...
