A child is reported to have died of the disease in September. This is a rare brain-earing amoeba. Officials from Arlington have now confirmed that a boy had been hospitalized with primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This is a rare but fatal infection caused by naefleria fowleri amoeba. The child died on September 11.
The amoeba is reportedly found in freshwater in Southern states. It is alsi found in geothermal water, warm water discharge, water heaters, geothermal drinking water and poorly maintained swimming pools.
The amoeba is never found in saltwater and it is best conditions to grow is higher temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit. People cannot be infected when they drink the water. The only way is when the water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose and then travels to the brain.
Infections happen when people go swimming in warm, fresh water sources infested with naegleria. The amoeba occurs mostly during the summer months.
Experts have noted that the symptoms of the disease is similar to those of the bacterial meningitis. These symptoms appear about five days from infections which include nausea, headache, vomiting and fever. Later symptoms include confusion, stiff neck, loss of balance, hallucinations, lack of attention and seizures.
After symptoms appear, the patient dies within five days. The fatality rate is estimated to be over 97 percent and only 4 people out of 148 known to have been infected with the disease between 1962 and 2019 actually survived.
According to one chief epidemiologist, Russ Jones, it is important not to submerge one’s head under freshwater and learn to hold your nose while under water to help reduce the chances of being infected with naegleria fowleri.
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