A man from south Florida died after contracting a deadly brain-eating infection after using tap water to rinse out his sinuses. The man, only identified as a resident of Charlotte County, died earlier this month just days before the county health department issued a public alert about the infection.
The brain-eating infection, Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic single-celled living amoeba, is rare and can happen when the tap water contaminated with the amoeba enters the nose.
However, the infection cannot be contracted by drinking tap water.
The amoeba, known as amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), causes the brain to become infected and cannot be treated.
According to a statement from the CDC to Fox 4, this is the first case ever in Florida.
It is also the first ever case reported in winter months in the U.S.
The CDC states that the infection kills over 97% of the people who contract it.
Out of 154 known infected individuals who contracted the infection in the U.S. between 1962 to 2021 survived the disease.
Last year, then 13-year-old Caleb Ziegelbauer contracted a possible brain-eating amoeba while swimming at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
Though the CDC has not confirmed his case as the Naegleria fowleri infection, his medical team believes that is what it was.
According to the report, Ziegelbauer is s still alive and on the road to recovery.s
According to the CDC, the amoeba typically lives in warm, freshwater bodies like rivers and lakes and sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers.
However, it is extremely rare for Naegleria fowleri to be found in swimming pools.
Foloowing the death DOH-Charlotte said it is “continuing to investigate how this infection occurred and is working with the local public utilities to identify any potential links and make any necessary corrective actions.”
The department warned Charlotte County residents to be extra mindful while bathing, showering, washing faces, swimming, and jumping into water.
