HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2022 (HealthDay Information) – The demise of a kid in Nebraska was probably brought on by an an infection with a “brain-eating amoeba” that occurred after the kid swam in an area river, state well being officers introduced this week.
In a information launch, officers stated it was the primary such demise ever reported within the state’s historical past. Generally known as Naegleria fowleri, the amoeba could cause main amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a mind an infection that’s extraordinarily uncommon, however practically all the time deadly.
“Hundreds of thousands of leisure water exposures happen every year, whereas solely 0 to eight Naegleria fowleri infections are recognized every year,” state epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Donahue famous within the information launch. “Infections usually happen later in the summertime, in hotter water with slower move, in July, August, and September. Instances are extra ceaselessly recognized in southern states, however extra just lately have been recognized farther north. Limiting the alternatives for freshwater to get into the nostril are the very best methods to scale back the danger of an infection.”
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is working to verify the reason for the kid’s demise by assessments, Lindsay Huse, director of the Douglas County Well being Division, stated throughout a Wednesday information convention on the kid’s demise, NBC Information reported.
Huse stated the kid had gone swimming on Aug. 8 in Nebraska’s Elkhorn River, turned symptomatic 5 days later and was hospitalized inside 48 hours after signs started.
The kid, who authorities haven’t launched extra details about out of respect for the household, died on Aug. 18, Dr. Kari Neemann, medical advisor for Douglass County, stated throughout a information convention on the demise.
“Proper now, we’re merely urging the general public to bear in mind and take precautions when they’re being uncovered to any heat, freshwater sources,” Huse stated.
The one-celled organism N. fowleri will be present in soil and in freshwater, comparable to lakes, streams, sizzling springs and rivers. It could actually infect folks when contaminated water goes up the nostril. The amoeba has been present in Northern states extra usually as local weather change fuels rising air and water temperatures.
The amoeba infects about three folks yearly in the US and is usually deadly, in keeping with the CDC. A complete of 154 recognized amebic meningoencephalitis infections occurred between 1962 and 2021. Solely 4 of these contaminated survived.
A Missouri resident additionally died from an infection with the amoeba in July, probably contracting it whereas swimming in an Iowa lake.
Swimmers ought to attempt to stop water from getting into their noses by plugging their noses if going underwater in freshwater, Huse stated. Well being officers additionally recommend not stirring up sediment in shallow heat water. Swallowing water doesn’t trigger this an infection.
“Just be sure you will not be participating in actions which are inflicting forceful water up the nostril comparable to water snowboarding, excessive pace tubing, these kinds of actions,” Huse stated.
Extra data
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has extra on brain-eating amoeba.
