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2w ago

Fatal Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Linked to RV Tap Water Sinus Rinse

The CDC warns that people should use only distilled, sterile or boiled then cooled water for nasal irrigation to prevent Naegleria fowleri infections.

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Microscope image of ameoeba
A woman died in Texas from a brain-eating ameba after using tap water in a sinus rinse, the CDC said.

Overview

  • A 71-year-old Texas woman performed sinus rinses with non-boiled potable water from her RV and developed severe neurologic symptoms four days later.
  • Laboratory tests detected Naegleria fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid and she died eight days after symptom onset despite aggressive treatment.
  • Testing of the RV water system showed inadequate disinfectant levels and cloudy water but investigators could not confirm the exact source due to delayed sampling.
  • Naegleria fowleri is a rare, free-living amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain infection with more than a 95 percent fatality rate.
  • The CDC emphasizes maintaining proper disinfection in water systems and following safe nasal irrigation practices to avoid life-threatening infections.