Brain-Eating Amoeba May Have Caused Nebraska Child’s Death

By Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) – The loss of life of a kid in Nebraska was seemingly 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 mentioned it was the primary such loss of life ever reported within the state’s historical past. 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.

“Millions 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 stream, in July, August, and September. Cases are extra incessantly recognized in southern states, however extra lately have been recognized farther north. Limiting the alternatives for freshwater to get into the nostril are the perfect methods to cut back the danger of an infection.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to substantiate the reason for the kid’s loss of life by assessments, Lindsay Huse, director of the Douglas County Health Department, mentioned throughout a Wednesday information convention on the kid’s loss of life, NBC News reported.

Huse mentioned the kid had gone swimming on Aug. 8 in Nebraska’s Elkhorn River, grew to become symptomatic 5 days later and was hospitalized inside 48 hours after signs started.

The little one, who authorities haven’t launched further details about out of respect for the household, died on Aug. 18, Dr. Kari Neemann, medical advisor for Douglass County, mentioned throughout a information convention on the loss of life.

“Right now, we are simply urging the public to be aware and take precautions when they are being exposed to any warm, freshwater sources,” Huse said.

The single-celled organism N. fowleri can be found in soil and in freshwater, such as lakes, streams, hot springs and rivers. It can infect people when contaminated water goes up the nose. The amoeba has been found in Northern states more often as climate change fuels rising air and water temperatures.

The amoeba infects about three people annually in the United States and is typically fatal, according to the CDC. A total of 154 known amebic meningoencephalitis infections happened between 1962 and 2021. Only four of those infected survived.

A Missouri resident also died from infection with the amoeba in July, possibly contracting it while swimming in an Iowa lake.

Swimmers should try to prevent water from entering their noses by plugging their noses if going underwater in freshwater, Huse said. Health officials also suggest not stirring up sediment in shallow warm water. Swallowing water does not cause this infection.

“Make sure that you are not engaging in activities that are causing forceful water up the nose such as water skiing, high speed tubing, those sorts of activities,” Huse mentioned.

More data

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extra on brain-eating amoeba.