Naegleria fowleri found in tests of St. Bernard Parish water supply

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/us/louisiana-brain-amoeba-water-supply/index.html

Brain amoeba found in tests of water supply where boy died in Louisiana
By David Simpson, CNN
updated 10:56 AM EDT, Fri September 13, 2013

CNN) -- Tests of a Louisiana parish's water supply confirmed the presence of a rare brain-eating amoeba blamed for last month's death of a 4-year-old boy.

The state's Department of Health & Hospitals said Thursday that tests conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found Naegleria fowleri in St. Bernard Parish water.

The water is safe to drink, state officials said, although they cautioned against getting water in the nose...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Naegleria fowleri found in tests of St. Bernard Parish water supply

Source: http://www.nebraska.tv/story/23485037/brain-eating-amoeba-rattles-nerves-in-la-parish


Brain-eating amoeba rattles nerves in La. parish
Posted: Sep 20, 2013 11:23 AM EDT Updated: Sep 20, 2013 11:23 AM EDT
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - While officials try to pin down the source of a deadly amoeba found in the water supply of a suburban New Orleans community, bottled water sales in St. Bernard Parish have skyrocketed and some people worry about washing their faces in the shower.

That's despite experts who say the only danger is to people who manage to get the microscopic organism way up their noses. Its only entry to the brain is through minute openings in a bone about level with the top of the eyeball, said Dr. Raoult Ratard, Louisiana's state epidemiologist.

But belief comes hard to many people. "As far as taking a bath or shower, you got no other choice," said Debbie Sciortino. "But I ain't drinking it, I ain't giving it to the dogs and I ain't cooking with it either..."