A resident of Missouri has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba while at an Ozarks lake, according to state health officials. The individual, referred to only as an adult from Missouri, passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in St. Louis, as stated by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
It was confirmed that the person was infected with Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that leads to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Health authorities announced the infection on August 13.
The victim had been in the intensive care unit prior to their death from the infection. Naegleria fowleri typically exists in warm freshwater environments like lakes and ponds, especially during warmer months when temperatures reach between 80 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose, allowing it to travel to the brain and damage its tissues.
Infections from this amoeba are exceedingly rare, with fewer than 10 cases reported in the United States annually. Since 1962, there have been only 167 documented cases across the nation, and Missouri itself has seen only two previous instances, occurring in 1987 and 2022.
The health department is advising both locals and visitors to exercise caution when swimming in warm freshwater or engaging in water sports. They recommend using nose clips, avoiding stirring up sediment in shallow waters, and opting for distilled or boiling water for activities that might involve water exposure.
Symptoms of PAM can manifest within one to twelve days after exposure and may include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, confusion, and even hallucinations, with symptoms worsening over time. Drinking contaminated water doesn’t pose a risk, and this infection cannot spread from person to person.
Treatments generally involve a combination of antifungal drugs and antibiotics, according to health experts. As of now, no additional infections are suspected in the area, and further inquiries have been made to the Missouri Department of Health for more details.
