A medical alert has been issued by health officials after a rare and extremely deadly brain-eating ameba infected a resident of Florida.
As the Department of Health announced, the victim got infected with Naegleria fowleri, a deadly ameba that can be found in soil and freshwater sources, in Hillsborough County.
According to the CDC, the ameba that destroys brain tissue and comes along with an incredibly high fatality rate can infect people as contaminated water enters through the nose.point 497 |
A person, however, “cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water” according to CDC.point 100 | 1
As health officials confirmed, the deadly ameba is usually present in warm freshwater sources including lakes, ponds, and rivers.
After entering through the nose of the victim and making its way to the brain, the ameba causes the person to experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, seizures, headaches, disorientation, and/or hallucinations.
“It is essential to seek medical attention right away, as the disease progresses rapidly after the start of symptoms,” the Department of Health explained in a statement.
As the officials confirmed, ameba infections typically occur in the southern states during the warmer months when water temperatures rise for a prolonged time.
According to the CDC, the mortality rate of people infected with Naegleria fowleri is 97%. So far, only 4 victims out of a total of 145 reported cases in the States since 1962 have survived the infection.
Following the most recent case, health officials have issued a medical alert urging people to avoid “water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater, hot springs and thermally polluted water such as water around power plants.”
As per the Department’s statement, an infection can also occur when a person uses contaminated tap water to clear their sinuses or if contaminated tap water otherwise enters the nasal passages.
If you are experiencing symptoms of an infection, make sure to seek medical attention immediately.
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