Brain-eating amoeba causes concern for CDC
What seems more like something out of a 1950s science fiction movie is actually a growing concern for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six young men died last year after swimming in lakes or pools infested with a brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri or N. fowleri, and guarding against another infection of these microscopic predators remains a hot issue as summer approaches.
According to an article featured on WebMD, the amoeba thrive in warm, fresh water all over the world. In the U.S., it inhabits the relatively hot waters of lakes, hot springs, and poorly maintained pools in Southern or Southwestern states. And, equally as unnerving as its ability to thrive in such environments is the fact that its moniker is in no way an understatement -- the amoeba literally feeds on the human brain.
WedMD reports that victims usually die seven to 10 days after infection, although symptoms may not appear for up to 14 days. Initial symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Later-onset symptoms include confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. Death follows the first symptoms by three to seven days.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-03-2008 @ 7:58AM
lindssay said...
oh my god. i wish this were a joke.
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6-03-2008 @ 10:19AM
steph said...
Um... could you tell us WHERE these 'six young men' were swimming please??
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6-03-2008 @ 10:34AM
mlith35 said...
I friggin hate moronic scare-tactic articles like this one. The author just wants to grab attention by terrifying people, and mentions nothing about the infinitely tiny chance of getting a Naegleria infection, even when you're surrounded by the critters.
You basically have to almost-drown to even have a remote chance of catching Naegleria, and even then the risk of infection is incredibly slight. Every body of fresh water has Naegleria living in it, and there have still only ever been a handful of cases.
If you're really petrified of the tiny chance of infection, wear nose clips. You have to suck in a huge sinus-full of water to have even a chance of infection. Check the CDC's fact-sheet on the amoeba, and if you ever develop meningitis symptoms within two weeks of swimming in fresh water, tell your doctor about the swim - most of the fatalities happen because the doctors assume it's not Naegleria and treat for meningitis instead. The Naegleria ends up being diagnosed at autopsy.
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