“Naegleria fowleri“This is its official scientific name. But it is commonly given the catchier “brain-eating amoeba.” A Charlotte County, Florida, resident died after being infected with this organism, CNN announced Thursday, citing a statement. local Health Department press release that had reported its contamination on February 23.
The authority, which did not give the victim’s sex or age, nevertheless underlines the rarity of such a tragedy and reminds its constituents of the actions to be taken to avoid it.
Infected after rinsing the nose with tap water
First of all, we must clarify the nature of this “brain eater”. “Naegleria fowleri” is therefore an amoeba, that is, a unicellular organism – parasite – that lives in relatively warm soils or freshwater surfaces. It owes its nickname to the brain infections it causes, expressed by the following symptoms: headache, nausea , fever, hallucination, coma.
If the Charlotte County Health Department did not identify the victim, its initial statement on February 23 established the source of the contamination. The deceased had contracted the disease from him by rinsing his nose “with tap water.”
However, the investigation continues, as this new statement, recorded in an email seen by CNN, and this time from Jae Williams, a spokesman for the department, shows: “An epidemiological investigation is underway to understand the unique circumstances of this infection.”
A rare and deadly infection
“Unique”, because the organization insists: “An infection by Naegleria fowleri it is rare (caps in original post, editor’s note) and can only occur in the event that water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose.” “We cannot (caps again, editor’s note) be contaminated by drinking tap water.
In fact, the gastric juices are responsible for destroying the harmful microorganism when it is swallowed through the mouth. Therefore, just a rinse of the nose or a moment of swimming in the water where the amoeba thrives can expose the subject to potential danger.
Therefore, health authorities recommend sticking to distilled or sterilized water when cleaning your sinuses. Even if that means using tap water, the Charlotte County Health Department continues in its statement, care should be taken to boil it for at least one minute before letting it cool.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives an overview of the rarity of infections by this amoeba, quantifying three per year. However, the event is as rare as it is fatal: there are therefore only four survivors out of 154 cases registered between 1962 and 2021, for a mortality rate that amounts to 97%, according to CBS News.
Source: BFM TV
