A resident of Florida has died as a result of a rare amoeba infection of the brain in the United States of America.

Naegleria Fowleri, the protozoan responsible for the victim’s death, can infect the human brain after passing through the nostrils. Some health experts have said that the victim may have rinsed their nasal sinuses with tap water already containing Naegleria Fowleri. The infection is especially deadly with a 97 percent fatality rate.

So, what are the risks of this infection killing another person?

WHAT IS NAEGLERIA FOWLERI?

According to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), “Naegleria is a free-living amoeba (a single-celled living organism). It is so small that it can only be seen with a microscope. It is commonly found in warm fresh water (such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and soil. Only one specie of Naegleria infects people: Naegleria Fowleri.”

Water containing Naegleria Fowleri infects people when the amoeba enters the body through the nose.

The amoeba travels to the brain and destroys the brain tissue. This leads to an infection named primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM is almost always fatal in human beings.

Experts have agreed Naegleria Fowleri infection never occurs after drinking contaminated water. The water has to enter the nostrils for the amoeba to travel upwards.

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WHERE TO FIND NAEGLERIA FOWLERI

Water bodies containing Naegleria Fowleri are hot springs, rivers, tap water and relatively warm bodies of water. Naegleria Fowleri grows in warm fresh water and in the soil around the world where it eats smaller microorganisms such as bacteria.

Experts say that the protozoan is more present in bodies of water around the world and enjoys warmer months.

“Naegleria Fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) organism, meaning it thrives in heat and likes warm water. It grows best at high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) and can survive for short periods at even higher temperatures,” the CDC fact sheet states.

“Scientists have tested water temperatures from lakes and rivers linked to some PAM cases, and the temperatures have typically been higher than 80°F. However, it is possible that the amebae may live in water with a temperature below 80°F.”

The amoeba lives in warm springs, lakes, naturally hot water sources, untreated swimming pools, soil sediments, water discharged from industries and tap water without proper chlorine treatment.

UNCOMMON BUT DEADLY

The CDC recorded between zero and five Naegleria Fowleri infection cases annually from 2012 to 2021.

Out of about 31 diagnosed infections, 28 was through contaminated recreational water, while two of the infected washed their sinuses using contaminated tap water. The last patient put tap water used on a backyard slip-on-slide in their nostrils. The tap water already contained Naegleria Fowleri.

“Most Naegleria fowleri infections happen in young males, especially those 14 years old and younger. The reasons for this aren’t clear,” the CDC states.

“It’s possible that young boys are more likely than others to participate in activities such as diving into the water and playing in the sediment at the bottom of lakes and rivers.”

The CDC says that only four people have survived out of the 154 known infected individuals in the US between 1962 and 2021. Mortality rate from PAM is over 97%.

Once the amoeba starts eating brain tissue, the brain begins to swell and death comes shortly after.

Naegleria Fowleri infection cannot move from one person to another. It has not been found to spread through droplets or in aerosol form.

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SYMPTOMS OF NAEGLERIA FOWLERI INFECTION

The signs of the onset of Naegleria Fowleri infection appear within a few days. The CDC says that death can happen under three weeks.

“The first symptoms of PAM usually start about 5 days after infection, but they can start within 1 to 12 days. Symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting,” says the CDC.

“Later symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. After symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within about 5 days (but death can happen within 1 to 18 days).”

HOW TO TREAT NAEGLERIA FOWLERI INFECTION

PAM or Naegleria Fowleri infection is such a rare and deadly disease. The CDC says that “the infection progresses so quickly, effective treatments have been challenging to identify”.

Health experts are still figuring out which is the best treatment for Naegleria Fowleri infection. Some drugs have improved patients’ conditions in the past, but the best drugs to treat these infections are unknown for now.

According to the CDC, Miltefosine is a new drug which has shown its ability to kill Naegleria Fowleri in the laboratory.

Miltefosine has been used to treat three survivors.

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PREVENTING NAEGLERIA FOWLERI INFECTION

The risk of contracting Naegleria Fowleri infection is very low. It is a very rare disease, so victims hardly expect to be infected.

Infection typically occurs when people inhale water from warm freshwater sources like lakes and rivers, or contaminated tap water. Clean or sterile water has to be used to clean nostrils.

Experts advise that people try as much as possible not to inhale water from warm and open water bodies. Swimming pools can be treated better and frequently with chlorine too.