After the Charlotte County Health Department in Florida reported February 23 contamination of a person living on their land with a so-called “brain-eating” amoeba, it confirmed his death on Thursday. However, the health department points out the rarity of this type of case and makes very specific recommendations for prevention.
“Naegleria fowleri” is its official scientific name. But it’s commonly given the catchier name “brain-eating amoeba.” A Charlotte County, Florida resident died after contracting the organism, CNN said Thursday, citing a press release from the local health department that first reported his contamination on Feb. 23.
However, the authority, which did not specify the sex or age of the victim, underscores the rarity of such a tragedy and reminds its constituents of the measures to be taken to avoid it.
Infected after rinsing the nose with tap water
First we need to clarify the nature of this “brain eater”. “Naegleria fowleri” is therefore an amoeba, i.e. a unicellular organism – parasitic – that lives in soil or relatively warm freshwater surfaces. It owes its nickname to the cerebral infections it causes, which translates to the following symptoms: headache, nausea, fever, hallucinations, coma.
If the Charlotte County Health Department did not identify the victim, its first statement, dated February 23, established the origin of the contamination. The deceased was infected by rinsing his nose “with tap water”.
But the investigation continues, as shown in this new statement, recorded in an email by CNN, this time from department spokesman Jae Williams: “An epidemiological investigation is underway to understand the unique circumstances of this infection.”
A rare and deadly infection
“Unique” because the organization insists: “Infection by Naegleria fowleri is rare (in capital letters in the original report, editor’s note) and can only occur if the water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose. “You cannot (again, in capital letters, ed.) be contaminated by drinking tap water.”
In fact, the gastric juices are responsible for destroying the harmful microorganism when swallowed through the mouth. Therefore, just a nasal wash or a moment of swimming in water where the amoeba thrives can expose the subject to potential danger.
Health authorities therefore recommend avoiding the use of distilled or sterilized water when cleaning the sinuses. Even if it means using tap water, the Charlotte County Health Department continues in its statement, care should be taken to boil it for at least a minute before allowing it to cool.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives an overview of the rarity of infections from this amoeba, putting it at three per year. However, the event is as rare as it is deadly: there are only four survivors out of 154 cases recorded between 1962 and 2021, which translates to a 97% mortality rate, according to CBS News.
Robin Verner Journalist BFMTV