HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Health officials say there has been a confirmed case of Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, in Hillsborough County.
According to the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled microscopic live amoeba that can cause a rare infection of the brain, called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which destroys brain tissue and is generally fatal.
The amoeba is commonly found in warm temperate water such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals, according to DOH. Infections can occur when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. The high season for Naegleria fowleri is from July to September. The amoeba is found to be more common in the southern states, the DOH said.
The infection is very rare in Florida, as there have only been 37 reported cases of exposure in the state since 1962, according to DOH. The infection can also be prevented by avoiding nasal contact with the waters, DOH said.
The Hillsborough County DOH made the following recommendations on how people can prevent infection:
- Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater bodies, hot springs, and thermally contaminated water, such as the water around power plants.
- Avoid water-related activities in warm temperate water during periods of high water temperature and low water levels.
- Keep your nose closed or use nose clips when participating in water-related activities in warm temperate bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, or hot springs.
- Avoid digging or removing sediment while participating in water-related activities in shallow, warm areas of fresh water.
You can also expose yourself to the amoeba using neti pots to rinse your breasts, DOH Hillsborough said in a press release.
DOH Hillsborough said to watch out for the following symptoms if you are swimming in a body of warm water: headache, fever, nausea, disorientation, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, loss of balance or hallucinations.
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