Brain-eating amoeba kills Georgia swimmer, health officials say. What we know
A person has died after contracting a rare amoeba brain infection that lives in freshwater, Georgia health officials said.
The state resident was “likely infected while swimming in a freshwater lake or pond in Georgia,” the Department of Public Health announced in a July 28 release.
The infection stems from a single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri, a type of amoeba that lives in wet soil and freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, ponds and hot springs, officials said.
Most may know the organism as the “brain-eating amoeba,” due to the extreme neurological symptoms caused by the infection.
The amoeba breaks down brain tissue, leading to severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, eventually progressing to stiff neck, seizures, coma and in some cases, death, officials said.
Symptoms can begin anytime between one and 12 days after swimming in warm, freshwater, officials said, but they typically begin five days after infection.
Health officials did not share when the resident was first infected and what, if any, treatment was provided.
The Department of Public Health also did not disclose where the resident may have picked up the deadly organism, noting only that it is not found in saltwater or properly treated drinking water and swimming pools.
“The location and number of amoebas in the water can vary over time within the same body of water,” officials said. “The amoeba is naturally occurring, and there is no routine environmental test for Naegleria fowleri in bodies of water; and because it is very common in the environment, levels of the amoebas that naturally occur cannot be controlled.”
Infection from the amoeba only occurs when water containing the amoeba goes up a person’s nose, officials said, such as when someone dives or jumps into a lake or pond.
“Though the risk of infection is low, recreational water users should always assume there is a risk,” officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide these precautions for enjoying freshwater activities while reducing the chance of infection:
Do not jump or dive into warm, fresh water, particularly during summer months.
Pinch your nose closed when entering the water, or keep your head above the surface.
Do not put your head under the water in hot springs or untreated geothermal ponds.
Avoid stirring up the dirt and sand on the bottom of the lake or pond as amoebas are more likely to live in the bottom sediment.
If you or someone you know develops a headache, fever or vomiting after swimming in warm fresh water, the CDC recommends seeking immediate medical attention.
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