Risk of “Naegleria fowleri” infection in fresh water
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In the US state of Florida, a 42-year-old man was infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba. This was announced by the Florida Department of Health. The amoeba is the so-called “Naegleria fowleri”, which can occur in fresh water. If it penetrates the brain through the nose, it can settle here and destroy the brain – in most cases, it ends in death.
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More than 90 percent of those affected die
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It gets into our body through the nose, eats into the human brain and can trigger a life-threatening purulent inflammation of the meninges and brain tissue (primary amoeba meningoencephalitis, PAM): Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic, single-celled amoeba, mostly in warm fresh water how to find lakes, ponds and rivers.
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Simply contacting the skin or swallowing it is harmless to us, as the American health agency “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) reports. According to the Robert Koch Institute, around 250 cases of primary amoeba meningoencephalitis (PAM) have been described worldwide, although a high number of unreported cases is assumed. More than 90 percent of the cases were fatal. In the United States alone, 145 cases are known from 1962 to 2018, according to the CDC. Only four people survived.
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Authorities warn against swimming in warm fresh water
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How the affected man from Hillsborough County in Florida is doing has not been announced so far. Local authorities are now warning of activities such as swimming and diving in warm fresh water, hot springs, and thermally polluted water, such as B. Water near power plants. It is also recommended to wear a nose clip to prevent possible amoebas from entering the nose.
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As a rule, the first symptoms of primary amoeba meningoencephalitis (PAM) appear about five days after the infection. Typical signs are according to the CDC:
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If the first symptoms appear, a doctor must be contacted immediately, as the disease progresses extremely quickly. After the first signs, it usually leads to death within five days.
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Are there brain-eating amoebas in Germany?
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The Naegleria fowleri is found mainly in very warm waters and occurs more often in July, August and September in the southern United States. According to the “Ärzte Zeitung”, no infection with Naegleria fowleri is known to date in Germany. In Europe there was the last known case in Great Britain 38 years ago. Those who still care about bathing should, according to the Robert Koch Institute, make sure to keep their heads above water and also wear a nose clip.
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