US man dies from brain-eating amoeba after rinsing his nose

A Florida man has died from a brain-eating amoeba, state health officials have confirmed.

The naegleria fowleri infection is thought to have been caused by the man rinsing his sinuses with tap water, but the Florida Department of Health said it is still investigating.

Naegleria fowleri is a “brain-eating amoeba”, most commonly found in warm fresh water such as lakes, rivers and hot springs, said People, but it “also resides in poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated swimming pools”.

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The amoeba “enters the body through the nose then travels to the brain”, explained Sky News, “where it destroys brain tissue and causes a devastating infection” called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. The amoeba is normally harmless if it enters the body through the mouth because stomach acid kills the single-cell microorganism, said the BBC.

There were three confirmed cases last year, which occurred after exposure to freshwater in Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona. “Overall, such infections are very rare,” said NBC News, “arising only when contaminated water enters through the sinuses.”

Symptoms initially include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can progress to having a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma, it added.

Health officials warn that, to avoid infections, people should not rinse out their nasal passages with untreated tap water, said the BBC. “Sterile or distilled water are preferred options” but “tap water can also be used if it is boiled for at least one minute and cooled before use”.

In January, officials in Western Australia issued a warning about naegleria fowleri as temperatures rose in the state.

“In this hot weather, people should assume that any warm fresh water could contain this potentially deadly amoeba,” said Western Australia Health’s managing scientist of water, Nathan Cocks. The advice explained that the amoeba “thrived in water temperatures between 28˚C and 40˚C”.