What’s the risk of being infected with a brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana?
Potential risk of brain-eating amoebas in Louisiana waters and how to avoid infection
A North Carolina teen is critically ill after being infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba, according to health officials.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on Aug. 27 that a teen resident has been infected with Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba commonly found in freshwater.
While the department confirmed the teen is in critical condition and receiving medical care, it said it is not releasing further information to protect the family’s privacy. The source of the case is under investigation.
“While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S.,” North Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore said in a statement.
It comes days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died from a Naegleria fowleri infection officials believe she contracted from swimming in a lake.
Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that can cause a rare, but often fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is Naegleria fowleri? What to know about brain-eating amoeba
Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the CDC.
It can also be found in poorly maintained swimming pools, splash pads and tap water, the CDC says.
If water containing the amoeba goes up a person’s nose and into the brain, it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Typically, fewer than 10 people a year in the United States get PAM. Nearly everyone who gets PAM dies from it.
A PAM infection destroys brain tissue, which is why it is often referred to a brain-eating amoeba.
Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are very rare, though when they do happen, they are almost always fatal, according to the CDC.
How to protect against brain-eating amoeba
The CDC recommends the following measures to protect against the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri:
- Hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into fresh water.
- Always keep your head above water in hot springs.
- Don’t dig in shallow water because the amoeba is more likely to live there.
- Use distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.