Georgia resident dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater lakes

A Georgia resident has died from a uncommon “brain-eating amoeba,” the state’s health department confirmed final Wednesday. 

The resident seemingly grew to become contaminated whereas swimming in a freshwater lake or pond in Georgia, the well being division mentioned. 

“Naegleria fowleri” is a uncommon an infection that destroys mind tissue, inflicting mind swelling and normally dying. The amoeba lives in soil and heat, freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds and sizzling springs. It’s not present in salt water and isn’t present in correctly handled consuming water and swimming swimming pools.

Officers didn’t say the place the sufferer was contaminated. Nor did officers launch any further details about the sufferer. That is the sixth case of the an infection in Georgia since 1962.

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Beneath a magnification of 125X, this photomicrograph of a mind tissue specimen depicts the cytoarchitectural modifications related to a free-living, Naegleria fowleri, amebic an infection.  (Smith Assortment/Gado/Getty Photographs)

Folks can turn into contaminated when water containing the amoeba goes up an individual’s nostril. It can not infect folks if swallowed and isn’t unfold from individual to individual.

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“The amoeba is of course occurring, and there’s no routine environmental check for Naegleria fowleri in our bodies of water; and since it is extremely frequent within the surroundings, ranges of the amoebas that naturally happen can’t be managed,” well being officers mentioned. “The placement and variety of amoebas within the water can fluctuate over time throughout the similar physique of water.”

FILE- “Naegleria fowleri” lives in soil and heat, freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and sizzling springs.  (Google Maps)

Signs of an an infection embody extreme headache, fever, nausea and vomiting and progress to a stiff neck, seizures and coma that may result in dying. Signs begin about 5 days after an infection however can begin anyplace from 1 to 12 days after an infection. Signs progress quickly and may trigger dying inside 5 days.

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Individuals who select to swim can cut back their threat of an infection by limiting the quantity of water that goes up their nostril. The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends not leaping or diving into our bodies of recent water, in addition to holding your nostril shut and conserving your head above water.

The Related Press contributed to this report.