NEWS UPDATE

A man from Charlotte County has died from a fatal brain-eating infection after using tap water to rinse his sinuses. Though unnamed, the Florida resident passed away on February 22nd – three days before the health department alerted the public of the danger posed by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic single-celled amoeba found in contaminated tap water. Fortunately, these infections are rare and can only happen when contaminated water enters through the nose – drinking tap water will not result in contamination.

ORIGINAL POST

The Florida Department of Health (DOH-Charlotte) has recently confirmed a Florida case infected with Naegleria fowleri, likely caused by practices involving tap water use for sinus rinsing. Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic single-celled amoeba found in warm lakes, rivers and soil that can cause infection to the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).Drinking contaminated water does not put you at risk; however, health officials urge residents to take caution when using tap water for sinus rinsing: boil compromised water for at least one minute before using.More potential risks include unsupervised sprinklers or squirt guns being used by children; as such, small hard plastic/blow-up pools should be emptied and scrubbed after each use, and all swimming pools should be sufficiently sanitized. Anyone who experiences symptoms like headaches, fever or nausea – especially after swimming in warm inland bodies of water or after nasal exposure – are advised to seek medical attention immediately.