Daijiworld Media Network – Texas

Texas, Jun 7: A 71-year-old woman tragically lost her life to a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic brain-eating amoeba, after using tap water for a nasal rinse, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in a recent report.

The woman, who was staying in an RV at a Texas campground, used an unboiled tap water from her recreational vehicle to perform nasal irrigation. The inadequately disinfected water was found to contain the deadly amoeba, which entered her brain, causing a fatal infection.

According to the CDC, the otherwise healthy woman began experiencing seizures and died just eight days after symptoms appeared. Tests later confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid.

“This case highlights the serious health risks linked to improper use of nasal irrigation devices and stresses the need for strict water quality control in RV systems and municipal water supplies,” the CDC stated.

An investigation by the Texas Department of State Health Services found that the woman had used the nasal rinse four days before falling ill. Although the exact contamination source whether the RV’s potable water tank or the local water supply could not be confirmed, tap water was identified as the exposure route.

The CDC collected 12 environmental samples, including the irrigation device and various RV water sources, but none tested positive for the amoeba. Despite this, the confirmed presence of N. fowleri in the patient emphasized the deadly risks posed by even rare exposure.

Naegleria fowleri, commonly found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes and hot springs, causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease that is almost always fatal. Health officials urge people to use only sterile, distilled, or properly boiled water for nasal rinsing to avoid such tragic outcomes.