A Missouri resident tragically lost their life after contracting a rare and deadly brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, according to a recent announcement by the state’s health officials. The individual, an adult from Missouri, passed away on Tuesday in a hospital located in the St. Louis area, as reported by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
The DHSS confirmed on August 13 that the patient had been infected with Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that leads to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This infection, often referred to as the “brain-eating” disease, is rare but almost always fatal. The amoeba is naturally found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, thriving in water temperatures between 80 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly after storms.
The amoeba enters the human body through the nose, traveling to the brain where it causes extensive damage to brain tissue. Despite its deadly nature, health officials emphasized that such infections are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually in the U.S. The individual contracted the infection at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Since 1962, only 167 cases have been recorded nationwide, according to the DHSS. Missouri has only confirmed two other cases in its history, one in 1987 and another in 2022. The DHSS has advised residents and visitors to exercise caution when swimming or participating in water sports in warm freshwater. Recommendations include holding the nose shut or using clips, avoiding stirring sediment in warm shallow water, refraining from dunking the head in hot springs, and using distilled or boiled water for sinus rinses.
Symptoms of PAM can manifest within one to 12 days of exposure and may include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, confusion, and hallucinations. These symptoms are likely to worsen over time, officials warned. “Early symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation, as they are also signs of bacterial meningitis,” said Tammy Lundstrom, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist for Trinity Health in Michigan.
Drinking contaminated water does not pose a risk, and the infection does not spread from person to person, Lundstrom clarified. Treatment typically involves a combination of antifungal medications and antibiotics such as rifampin and azithromycin. The health agency confirmed that no other cases are suspected in the area.