Florida Department of Health confirmed a new case of ‘Naegleria fowleri’, also known as amoeba “brainworm”, an organism that destroys brain tissue and often causes death. For this reason, the health authorities of the American state have requested caution this summer when doing activities in fresh and temperate waters.
This case occurred in the hillsborough county, although no further details about the patient or his condition were offered. It is a parasite that lives in the environment without affecting humans, but that when he makes an appearance in warm waters (mainly in lakes, rivers, ponds and hot springs), It can cause lethal infections, since it reaches the brain through the olfactory nerves.
One person contracted Naegleria fowleri in Hillsborough County. Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic single-celled living amoeba. The amoeba can cause a rare infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal. pic.twitter.com/icT66tqlkU
— DOH – Hillsborough (@DOHHillsborough) July 3, 2020
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Brain damage
Once it enters the body, the amoeba produces a devastating brain infection, a condition known as ‘Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis’. It usually enters the body through the nose or mouth, and the only known way to prevent it is abstain from activities in warm water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight that “once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels through the brain and causes the condition called PAM, which it is almost always fatal. “
Florida and Texas, with cases
The CDC they only have statistics available between the years 1962 and 2016. Despite this, the most affected areas were Texas and Florida, with more than 10 cases each, although they do not specify how many exactly.
No water activities
The leaders of the so-called ‘Sunshine State’ have requested that aquatic activities be avoided. In addition, they also recommended that water should be prevented from entering the nose and for this, They advised the use of nasal forceps.
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