Missouri residents are infected with rare brain-stimulating amoebas that may be associated with water skiing in the Ozarks lake.
The Missouri Department of Health (DHSS) confirmed the infection Wednesday.
Unidentified adults are hospitalized and treated in intensive care units. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba.
Death confirmed from the rare and fatal “brain-eating amoeba” in Minami Lake
At this time, no other cases are suspected in the area, the health agency said in a press release.
The cause of patient exposure was not confirmed, but DHSS reported that the patient may have been water skiing Until you get sick.
“Recreational water users should assume that Naegleria fowleri is present in warm freshwater nationwide, but infections remain extremely rare,” the agency said.
Amoeba can enter, so Naegleria fowleri is risky when swimming in fresh water Through the nose.
Four people died in Florida from carnivorous bacteria found in coastal waters
Health officials say Amoeba is most active in months when water temperatures start from 77F to July, August and September.
Human infections are extremely rare, with only 167 cases of PAM reported in the US between 1962 and 2024.
The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about 5 days after exposure, but can be noticed earlier.
Usually early signs Include headachesnausea, fever, vomiting, says the CDC website.
As the infection progresses, people can experience confusion, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.
“People usually start to feel sick one to 12 days after exposure to water,” Tammy Lundstrom, chief medical officer and infectious disease expert at Trinity Health in Michigan, previously told Fox News Digital. “Early symptoms should encourage medical evaluation. Bacterial Meningitis. ”
Deaths can lead to 1 to 18 days of infection, on an average of five days.
To prevent potentially fatal infections, health officials recommended taking precautions when swimming in freshwater.
“Close your nose, use a nose clip or place your head above the water, especially when you’re involved in warm freshwater activities,” warned Missouri health officials.
Lundstrom reiterated that it is best to avoid soaking your head in the water while swimming in the summer.
“Infection occurs when water carrying an amoeba usually lifts a person’s nose while swimming,” she previously told Fox News Digital. “I don’t know if some people get infected and others don’t even know about their swimmers.”
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Drinking contaminated water poses no risk and the infection will not spread from one person to another, Lundstrom added.
Because amoeba is found in the soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding agitation of sediments on lakes, ponds and rivers.
When a patient is diagnosed with brain-eating amoeba, treatment usually includes a variety Antifungal drugsLike antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom.
Myrtefosin, a new antifungal drug, has been shown to kill Nagrelia faureli in clinical testing and has been used to treat surviving patients, the CDC says on its website.
“However, the effectiveness of all these drugs on actual infected individuals is unknown due to their high mortality,” Lundstrom noted.
Those who experience sudden headaches, fever, stiff neck, and vomiting – especially if you’ve been swimming in warm freshwater recently, you should look for it immediately Medical proceduresCDC recommends.
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Despite the high mortality rate of infectious diseases, Lundstrom highlighted the rarity of cases.
“Millions of people enjoy swimming every summer, but only a few people get infected,” she said.
