Saturday, August 22nd 2015, 10:07 pm
Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain eating amoeba, has been blamed for three deaths so far this year in the United States. Now, health officials in Louisiana are keeping a close eye on two water systems that have tested positive for the parasite.
The amoeba is found in warm fresh water, such as lakes and rivers, but can also live in sediment.
Health officials say you can't get infected drinking contaminated water, but caution that you can get sick if the water goes up your nose and the amoeba reaches the brain.
"It can be forced up the nose, cross into the brain and begin to destroy brain tissue, unfortunately leading to death within a very short period of time," Dr. Jonathan Yoder an epidemiologist at the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CBS News.
Infections from the amoeba are rare but almost always fatal.
Symptoms start off similar to many other, more common illnesses, such as bacterial meningitis, and include fever, headache, stiff neck, and vomiting. Experts urge people to seek medical attention immediately if they're experiencing these symptoms, particularly if they have been in warm fresh water recently.
Cases of the deadly amoeba have gotten widespread media attention, but the threat is extremely remote. Only 35 cases were documented between 2005 and 2014. In recent years, a new drug helped two people survive the devastating infection.
If you're worried, experts say there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk.
"They might decide not to go swimming in water that is warm and untreated or if they go swimming they might decide not to put their head under water," Yoder said. "Or not have water forced up their nose. If they wear nose clips, that might prevent some of that water being forced up."
For communities in Louisiana where the amoeba was detected in the water, the CDC recommends the following precautions:
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