Brain-eating amoeba Naegleria Fowleri kills lake swimmer

A man from Missouri died after getting infected with a “brain-eating” amoeba Naegleria Fowleri while swimming in an Iowa lake.

The patient, whose name hasn’t been released, was taken to the hospital earlier this month after swimming in the Lake of Three Fires in Taylor County, Iowa while visiting the lake’s beach.

On July 8, the Iowa Department of Public Health said the beach was temporarily closed to swimming as a “precautionary measure”. It was done after a Missouri resident was found to have Naegleria Fowleri.

Where can Naegleria Fowleri be found?

One-celled Naegleria Fowleri can be found in warm, freshwater lakes and rivers. These conditions are ideal for its survival. It can enter the bodies of swimmers by their noses. Then it makes its way to their brains, where it can destroy brain cells. It then causes the brain to enlarge, and even results in death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 97% of people who get naegleria fowler die. From 1962 to 2021, there were 154 known cases in the United States, but only four people lived.

The Department of Health said that tests are being done right now to make sure that the amoeba is in the lake. These tests could take “several days” to finish.

A news release says, “The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the Department of Natural Resources to share information about this rare infection. Moreover, they will give more updates as test results come in.”

Can the infection be passed from person to person?

Swimmers have been told that the infection can’t be passed from person to person. They aslso can’t be caught drinking contaminated water.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said it won’t release any more information about the person who died this month that could be used to find out who they were “because these cases are so rare and out of respect for the family.”

The Department of Health has told people who swim in warm fresh water to hold their noses, use nose clips, or keep their heads above water to avoid getting sick.

“Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during times when the water temperature is high,” it says. “When doing water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas, don’t dig in the sediment or stir it up.”

Infections caused by Naegleria Fowleri are extremely uncommon:

Today, infections caused by Naegleria Fowleri are extremely uncommon. However, those who have recently been in warm bodies of water and are experiencing severe headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, or stiff necks should contact their primary care physician as soon as possible.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is “not known” whether or not there is an effective treatment for infection. They claim that “many medications are effective against Naegleria Fowleri in the laboratory. However, the efficiency of these drugs is “unclear” due to the fact that practically all infections have resulted in death.

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