A guy in Georgia, United States, died after being infected by a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in a freshwater lake or pond. According to NBC News, the Georgia citizen has yet to be recognized.
The Georgia Department of Public Health, in a statement, said that “a Georgia resident has died from Naegleria fowleri, a rare infection which destroys brain tissue, causing brain swelling and usually death.”
“The individual was likely infected while swimming in a freshwater lake or pond in Georgia.”
“Though the risk of infection is low, recreational water users should always assume there is a risk when they enter warm freshwater,” said the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“If you choose to swim, you can reduce your risk of infection by limiting the amount of water that goes up the nose.”
Recent deaths in the United States as a result of a rare amoeba
A two-year-old boy from Nevada died from the virus in July. The virus was most likely obtained at a natural hot spring, according to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioural Health.
Previously, a Florida individual died from the amoeba after doing a nasal rinse with tap water in February.
What exactly is it?
This brain-eating amoeba is known scientifically as ‘Naegleria fowleri,’ and it is a microscopic single-celled creature found in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
How does Naegleria fowleri spread?
Naegleria fowleri can enter the body through contaminated water. This can occur when people swim, dive, or immerse their heads in water contaminated by this amoeba.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amoeba travels up your nose and into your brain cavity, where it progressively destroys brain tissue and produces a rare but generally fatal infection known as Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
Even though people do not swim in the aforementioned bodies of water, they can become infected if they use Naegleria fowleri-contaminated water to clean their noses and clear their sinuses.
People have been affected in rare cases by chlorine-free pool water and water parks, for example.
Where can you find this brain-eating amoeba geographically?
It was initially detected in the United States in 1937, and the CDC advises that it may be present in any freshwater body in the United States during the warmer months of July, August, and September. It is not found in seawater or brackish water.
The creature thrives in warm water and heat, and grows best at temperatures up to 115°F (46°C), while it can sometimes survive at lower temperatures.
How common are infections caused by this unusual brain-eating amoeba?
Between 2012 and 2021, an average of zero to five cases were detected per year in the United States. As of 2018, 381 instances had been reported from around the world, primarily from the United States, India, and Thailand.
According to NBC, there were three verified cases of Naegleria fowleri in the United States last year. The instances were recorded from Iowa, Nebraska, and Arizona, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and were thought to have occurred after exposure to freshwater.
South Korea also reported a case, its first-ever case of the brain-eating amoeba, towards the end of December.
Who is the disease’s most vulnerable victim?
The majority are young boys aged 14 and under. According to the CDC, this could be because boys this age are more likely to participate in activities that expose people to the organism and the ensuing sickness.
Is it spreadable?
No, Naegleria fowleri illness is not communicable, which means that an infected person cannot spread the disease to another person.
What are the signs of a brain infection?
Fever, nausea, and vomiting are common symptoms that appear after around five days of illness. Other symptoms that occur later in the infection’s progression include a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. It eventually kills brain tissue, causing swelling and, death.
The disease spreads quickly, and mortality usually occurs between one and five days after infection. In about 97% of instances, the infection is deadly.
What are the Naegleria fowleri treatment options?
There is currently no standard treatment for the amoeba. This is primarily due to the infection’s rarity. However, a variety of medications were shown to be helpful in the treatment.
While reported occurrences of this lethal amoeba are rare at the moment, as climate change and global warming heat up the earth, this heat-loving amoeba may thrive, making infections more widespread.