After bathing in a lake, a man was infected with a brain-eating amoeba. He did not survive.
In the United States, at the end of June, a man bathed in a lake in the state of Iowa. He was unfortunately infected by a deadly amoeba at this time. Admitted to the emergency room, unfortunately he could not be saved by the nursing staff.
A lake infested with Naegleria fowleri bacteria
For the sake of anonymity, the identity of the patient has not been communicated by the authorities. According NBC News, however, it is known that he bathed in a lake in the state of Iowa, and that it is very likely that he was infected at that time. While swimming, he would thus have come into contact with the amoeba Naegleria fowleriwho had already caused the death of a California child last summer. This man is believed to have died from a Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
In a thread, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services reports:
“Although rare, infection can occur when water containing Naegleria fowleri comes in through the nose from warm fresh water. The amoeba goes up its nose to the brain where it destroys brain tissue. This infection is not contagious and cannot be contracted by swallowing water.”
Although rare, infection can occur when water containing Naegleria fowleri enters through the nose from warm freshwater. The ameba travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys brain tissue. This infection isn’t contagious and can’t be contracted by swallowing water.
— Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (@HealthyLivingMo) July 8, 2022
A lake closed to the public as a precaution
Authorities suspect the amoeba is present in the Lake of Three Fires, north of Kansas City. The lake has been closed to the public as a precaution. According to a report from theANSESthe risks of infection are extremely rare: 310 cases have been recorded in 50 years, including only one in France.
The agency therefore states that “the risk to public health is low compared to that of other swimming-related infectious diseases” but specifies however that it “it is a severe pathology, which most often results in death (in 95% of cases)”.