A Florida man died from a rare brain-eating amoeba which health officials say was “possibly as a result of sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water.” Such infections are common in Southern states during warmer months.
Man dies from brain-eating amoeba in tap water
Florida State health officials confirmed that a man died after becoming infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, and was “possibly as a result of sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water.”
Health officials were quick to point out that the danger comes not from drinking tap water but when water goes through the nose. The FDA urges people using sinus rinsing devices to always avoid the use of unsterilized tap water (see below for a list of proper precautions) BuzzFeed reports.
“Infection with Naegleria fowleri is RARE and can only happen when water contaminated with amoebae enters the body through the nose,” the Florida Department of Health said in an update. “You CANNOT be infected by drinking tap water.”
State and local health environmental agencies say they are continuing “to coordinate on this ongoing investigation, implement protective measures, and take any necessary corrective actions,” NPR reported.
Naegleria fowleri, frequently called a “brain-eating amoeba,” is a single-celled amoeba that lives in warm fresh water. Once ingested through the nose, it can cause a rare but almost-always fatal brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 157 PAM infections in the United States between 1962 and 2022. There are only four people known to have survived the infection, while a fifth, a Florida teenager, has been fighting for his life since last summer, according to reports.
The disease progresses rapidly, typically causing death within about five days of the onset of symptoms, according to the CDC.
Steps to take to prevent amoeba from entering your body through the nose
The Florida Department of Health posted a number of safety measures to prevent becoming infected by an amoeba that enters the body through the nose.
-Do not allow water to go up your nose or sniff water when doing any of the following: Washing your face, bathing, showering, or swimming, particularly in small hard plastic or blow-up pools.
-Do not put your head underwater in bathtubs or in small plastic or inflatable pools.
-Do not jump into warm fresh water, small plastic pools, or inflatable pools.
-Empty out, scrub, and allow small plastic or inflatable pools to dry between each use.
-Maintain properly chlorinated and adequately disinfected swimming pools, and shock with chlorine before each use.
-Do not allow children to play unsupervised with sprinklers or hoses. Avoid activities such as slip-n-slides and other situations where it is difficult to prevent water from going up the nose.
-Consider using nasal clips for added protection with water activities.
How to protect yourself when using nasal/sinus rinsing devices
Sinus rinsing, such as bulb syringes, squeeze bottles, or nasal irrigation devices such as neti pots, are “usually safe and effective… When used and cleaned properly,” according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, the FDA and the CDC stress that it’s important to avoid the use of tap water with these devices. The FDA recommends any of these methods for ensuring the water is safe:
-Use distilled or sterile water, which can be purchased in stores.
-If using tap water, boil for 3 to 5 five minutes, then allow to cool until lukewarm. Boiled water can be stored in a clean, closed container if it is used within 24 hours.
-Use water that has been passed through a filter designed to trap potentially infectious organisms. Look for filters labeled “NSF 53” or “NSF 58.”
