HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Florida. – The Florida Department of Health has confirmed a case of Naegleria Fowleri Florida infection in Hillsborough County.
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled microscopic live amoeba. The amoeba can cause a rare brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis that destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal.
The amoeba is commonly found in warm temperate water such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals.
Infections can occur when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM. Infections generally occur when temperatures rise for prolonged periods of time, resulting in higher water temperatures and lower water levels.
The high season for this amoeba is July, August and September. Naegleria fowleri is found in many warm freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers in the United States, but is more common in the southern states. The low number of infections makes it difficult to know why some people have been infected compared to the millions of others who used the same or similar waters in the U.S.
Although there have only been 37 reported cases of exposure in Florida since 1962, DOH warns those who frequently swim and dive in Florida’s lakes, rivers, and ponds during warm temperatures about the possible presence of Naegleria fowleri.
As a precaution, health officials recommend the following:
- 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 temperate freshwater bodies 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.
If you experience any of these symptoms after swimming in a warm body of water, contact your healthcare provider immediately: headache, fever, nausea, disorientation, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, loss of balance, or hallucinations . Immediate medical attention is essential as the disease progresses rapidly after the onset of symptoms.
Remember, this disease is rare and effective prevention strategies can allow for a safe and relaxing summer swimming season. For the latest information on the amoeba, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/general.html.
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