Texas woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses

Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Claims Life of Texas Woman

A 71-year-old Texas woman has died after being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, after using tap water to clear out her sinuses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The woman suddenly died after experiencing "severe neurologic symptoms" and was treated for a suspected Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) infection.
Despite the treatment, she began having seizures and ultimately died eight days after the onset of symptoms, which included "fever, headache and [an] altered mental status."

The tragedy unfolded after the woman used a "nasal irrigation device" filled with tap water from an RV's water system at a Texas campground.
After her death, CDC officials confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri in the woman's cerebrospinal fluid, a clear and colorless fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and serves as a protective cushion while also providing nutrients, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

What is Naegleria fowleri?

The CDC describes Naegleria fowleri as a single-cell organism that lives in freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
"If water containing the ameba goes up the nose and to the brain, it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)," the CDC said.

Officials said that fewer than 10 people contract PAM each year, but the death rate is nearly 100%.

Staying Safe

CDC officials gave the following recommendations to stay safe:

• Hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into fresh water.
• Always keep your head above water in hot springs.
• Don't dig in shallow water because the amoeba is more likely to live there.
• Use distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.

— USA TODAY's Fernando Cervantes, Jr. contributed to this report.