Amoeba parasite causes fifth death in the US

[Giuseppe]

[Source: Thaindian, full text: (LINK).]

Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US



17 August 2011 | Aishwarya Bhatt

Washington, Aug 17 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Fear seems to have gripped a section of the US public after the second death linked to a rare creature was confirmed in the country. Autopsy carried out on 9-year-old Virginia boy Christian Alexander Strickland confirmed that he had an inflammation of the brain. The death has been blamed on [...]

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[Shiloh]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011)

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/17...a.kids.deaths/

Brain-eating amoebas blamed in three deaths
By Madison Park, CNN
August 17, 2011 12:38 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- It's eerie but it's true: Three people have died this summer after suffering rare infections from a waterborne amoeba that destroys the brain.

This is the time of year when there is an uptick in cases. The amoebas flourish in the heat -- especially during the summer months in the South, thriving in warm waters where people swim.

Health officials usually record as many as eight deaths in any given year. And most of the time, they occur in children and teenagers.

"These are rare infections, but super tragic for families," said Jonathan Yoder, the waterborne disease and outbreak surveillance coordinator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We don't want to minimize how hard it is for families."

The amoeba, called Naegleria fowleri, is the only type that infects humans and is more than 95% lethal. The first death in 2011 occurred in June in Louisiana, according to the CDC...

[Emily]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011)

http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-christ...,5008447.story

Mom says boy died soon after contact with rare amoeba
Angela Pellerano CBS 6 News Anchor/Reporter

12:29 p.m. EDT, August 17, 2011

In the video at the link, Christian's mother is interviewed. The last known case of Naegleria fowleri in Virginia was in 1969.

[Laidback Al]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011) **Count of deaths in US is now at 3

3 die of rare brain infection from amoeba in water

ATLANTA (AP) ? Two children and a young man have died this summer from a brain-eating amoeba that lives in water, health officials say.

This month, the rare infection killed a 16-year-old Florida girl, who fell ill after swimming, and a 9-year-old Virginia boy, who died a week after he went to a fishing day camp. The boy had been dunked the first day of camp, his mother told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Those cases are consistent with past cases, which are usually kids ? often boys ? who get exposed to the bug while swimming or doing water sports in warm ponds or lakes.

The third case, in Louisiana, was more unusual. It was a young man whose death in June was traced to the tap water he used in a device called a neti pot. . . .

more at: http://news.yahoo.com/3-die-rare-bra...HRlc3QD;_ylv=3

[Emily]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011) **Count of deaths in US is now at 3

The third case, in Louisiana, was more unusual. It was a young man whose death in June was traced to the tap water he used in a device called a neti pot. . . .

These devices are sold in many drugstores, health food stores and online here in the US. People better check with an ENT specialist doctor about how to sterilize the water if this amoeba can be found in tap water here.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011) **Count of deaths in US is now at 3

More on the Louisiana case;
Doctors explain cause of brain-eating amoeba . wwltv.com
Posted on August 18, 2011 at 6:52 PM

Updated yesterday at 7:02 PM

Meg Farris / Medical Reporter


...
State health officials say the organism was found in the shower head in his home. It was also in the hot water heater. But they say it was isolated to that home and the water supply was checked and not contaminated.

...

To protect yourself from this rare infection, use a nose clip or hold your nose when jumping into lakes and rivers. In neti pots, use only sterile or distilled water, or water that has been boiled and cooled.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/health/Doctors-explain-cause-of-brain-eating-amoeba-128043523.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes second death in the US (Thaindian, August 17 2011) **Count of deaths in US is now at 3

Brain-eating amoeba claims fourth victim who picked up parasite after swimming in lake
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 7:19 AM on 11th September 2011

A Kansas resident died this week from what was likely a rare infection by a brain-eating amoeba - the fourth such case in the U.S. this year.
State and local officials warned residents to avoid activities in warm rivers, lakes and other bodies of heated, fresh water, including ponds near power plants.
Single deaths from such infections also have been reported this summer in Florida, Louisiana and Virginia.
...

The Kansas victim was from Sedgwick County. The person apparently went swimming in August in the city lake in Winfield, about 30 miles southeast of Wichita, said county spokeswoman Amanda Matthews.
The victim entered a hospital Aug. 19 complaining of headaches, developed breathing problems and died five days later.

...
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1XdtMDtOI

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes fourth death in the US

For Immediate Release
September 9, 2011

Sedgwick County Heath Department, Amanda Matthews, (316) 660-9370
City of Winfield, Warren Porter, (620) 221-5525
City-Cowley County Health Department, David Brazil, (620) 221-1430
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Miranda Myrick, (785) 296-5795

Local and State Health Officials Investigating Probable
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) Death

State and local health officials have been notified of a probable case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in freshwater, that resulted in the death of Sedgwick County resident. The investigation by Sedgwick County Health Department staff indicate the infection likely occurred while swimming in Winfield City Lake in Cowley County.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri in a specimen from the patient. Pending additional studies from the CDC and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, this is the first known case of PAM caused by Naegleria fowleri in Kansas.

Naegleri fowleri can be found in freshwater environments around the world, but infection causing PAM is extremely rare. From 2001 to 2010, 32 infections were reported in the U.S. The risk of infection increases during the summer months, and may be related to prolonged periods of hot weather associated with higher water temperatures and lower water levels. The infection, which is nearly always fatal, typically occurs when the amoeba enters the body through the nose while the person is swimming underwater or diving and travels to the brain.

?Cases like this are very rare in the United States, and we express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the person who suffered this infection,? said Robert Moser, MD, KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer.

Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures and hallucinations. This infection cannot be spread from person to person or contracted from a properly maintained swimming pool.

Though the risk of infection is extremely low, the following precautions might decrease the possibility of infection:

Avoiding water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater, hot springs, and thermally-polluted water such as water around power plants.
Avoiding water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water levels.
Keeping your head out of the water, holding your nose shut or using nose clips when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, or hot springs.
Avoiding digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.
The safest way to prevent infection from an amoeba is to not swim in warm standing water, poorly maintained swimming pools, storm water holding areas or in places where ?no swimming? signs are posted.

For more information on healthy swimming visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/.

http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2011/09092011a.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes fourth death in the US

Dave Convery

Neti Pot Deaths Linked to Brain-Eating Amoeba in Tap Water

By The Associated Press
Fri, Dec 16, 2011


Louisiana health regulators warned residents Tuesday about the dangers of using neti pots improperly. A neti pot, which looks like a genie's lamp, is commonly used to irrigate sinuses. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued its warning following a second death this year caused by Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating amoeba.

A 51-year-old DeSoto Parish woman died after using tap water in a neti pot to irrigate her sinuses and became infected by the deadly amoeba, which entered the body through her nose. In June, a 20-year-old St. Bernard Parish man died under the same circumstances.

...

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/flu/neti-pot-deaths-linked-brain-eating-amoeba-tap-water

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes fourth death in the US

North Louisiana Woman Dies from Rare Ameba Infection
DHH warns residents about improper neti pot use
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | Contact: Bureau of Media & Communications (225) 342-7913 or (225) 252-3579 (cell)
Baton Rouge?The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is warning residents about the dangers of the improper use of neti pots. The warning follows the state's second death this year caused by Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating ameba. A 51-year-old DeSoto Parish woman died recently after using tap water in a neti pot to irrigate her sinuses and becoming infected with the deadly ameba. In June, a 20-year-old St. Bernard Parish man died under the same circumstances. Naegleria fowleri infects people by entering the body through the nose. A neti pot is commonly used to irrigate sinuses, and looks like a genie's lamp.

"If you are irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution," said Louisiana State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raoult Ratard. "Tap water is safe for drinking, but not for irrigating your nose." It's also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry.

Naegleria fowleri infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater lakes and rivers. In very rare instances, Naegleria fowleri infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated tap water less than 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit) enters the nose when people submerge their heads or when people irrigate their sinuses with devices such as a neti pot. You cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking water.

Naegleria fowleri causes the disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. In its early stages, symptoms of PAM may be similar to symptoms of bacterial meningitis.

Initial symptoms of PAM start one to seven days after infection. The initial symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Later symptoms include confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within one to 12 days.

Naegleria fowleri infections are very rare. In the 10 years from 2001 to 2010, 32 infections were reported in the U.S. Of those cases, 30 people were infected by contaminated recreational water and two people were infected by water from a geothermal drinking water supply.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2332

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: Amoeba parasite causes fifth death in the US

I have issues with the warning of using neti pots. The problem is not with the pots it is with the water supply not being safe. The amoebas did not magically appear out of thin air, it came in through the water pipes. Granted if you use them in that part of the world it would be best if you used sterilized water but, more importantly, it would behoove all of the local residents to insist their water be safe to use in every home in every way. Otherwise some child playing in the bath water in his own home is going to die a hideous death after splashing water up his nose.