Rinsed Nose with Tap Water... Death from 'Brain-Eating Amoeba' in the US

Fowler's Free-Living Amoeba Causing Meningitis Infection
"First Death Case Infected by Tap Water"

A case of death caused by infection with 'Naegleria fowleri,' commonly known in the United States as the 'brain-eating amoeba,' has occurred. The victim is presumed to have been infected while rinsing his nose with tap water, prompting health authorities to issue an alert.

According to foreign media including CNN in the U.S. on the 3rd (local time), a man in Charlotte County, Florida, died on the 20th of last month due to infection with Naegleria fowleri.

The U.S. news weekly Newsweek and the British BBC reported, "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that this death is the first case of Naegleria fowleri infection through tap water."

Naegleria fowleri enters the brain through the nose and causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, with a fatality rate of up to 97%. The incubation period ranges from as short as 2-3 days to a maximum of 15 days, with symptoms including headache, fever, and vomiting. In the U.S., 154 cases of infection were reported from 1962 to 2021, with 150 deaths among them.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Until now, Naegleria fowleri has mainly been found in warm freshwater such as lakes and rivers, and many infections occurred during outdoor activities like swimming.

The Charlotte County health authorities stated, "It appears that the deceased man was infected after rinsing his nasal cavity with tap water," and issued an alert on the 23rd of the same month, urging residents not to inhale water through their nose even while showering.

According to health authorities, when rinsing the nasal sinuses, disinfected water or distilled water should be used, and tap water must be boiled for more than one minute and then cooled before use. However, infection does not occur from drinking tap water, and it is known that transmission between people does not occur.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, a man in his 50s who stayed in Thailand for four months and returned last December showed symptoms of meningitis and died; it was later confirmed that he was infected with Naegleria fowleri.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.