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Naegleria fowleri infects people when the water in the amoeba enters the body through the nose.
A case of a rare brain-eating amoeba has been confirmed in Florida, according to health officials in the US state.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) said that a person in Hillsborough County had hired Naegleria fowleri.
Microscopic, single-celled amoeba can cause an infection of the brain, and is usually fatal.
Commonly found in warm fresh water, the amoeba enters the body through the nose.
DOH did not describe where the infection or the patient’s condition was contracted. The amoeba cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Infections are typically seen in the southern states of the United States. They are rare in Florida, where only 37 cases have been reported since 1962.
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But given the life-threatening consequences of the infection, DOH issued a warning to Hillsborough County residents on July 3.
Health officials urged locals to avoid nasal contact with tap water and other sources.
This includes open water bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals, where infections are most likely in the warmer summer months of July, August, and September.
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Naegleria fowleri infections are usually fatal
People infected with Naegleria fowleri have symptoms including fever, nausea, and vomiting, as well as stiff neck and headaches. Most die within a week.
DOH has urged people experiencing those symptoms to “seek medical attention immediately, as the disease progresses rapidly.”
Remember, this disease is rare and effective prevention strategies can allow for a safe and relaxing summer swimming season, “DOH said.
Naegleria fowleri infections are rare in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Between 2009 and 2018, only 34 infections were reported in the country. Of those cases, 30 people were infected with recreational water, three after performing nasal irrigation with contaminated tap water, and one person was infected with contaminated tap water used in a backyard landslide and slide, the CDC said.
