A woman from California died in a Reno Hospital after she contracted an amoeba that affects people's brains dangerously.
The 21-year-old woman, whose name is currently withheld, is believed to have contracted Naegleria fowleri, which is sometimes called as brain-eating amoeba. It was discovered over 50 years ago in Australia. In the United States, however, experts believed they have already mutated. According to WebMD, there are many Naegleria species, but the fowleri subtypes are the only ones known to harm humans.
The specific details surrounding the infection are not clear. Based on multiple news reports, she may have obtained the amoeba through swimming. This type of amoeba tends to thrive well in warm waters, as well as in freshwater lakes and rivers. However, it can also be present in swimming pools that are filthy or not properly maintained. The woman who hails from Bishop had swum in the waters that are within private property. The amoeba must have entered through her nose then traveled to her brain, which then lead to tissue damage.
By June 16, she was woken by certain symptoms, which included vomiting and nausea. She was also having significant headache. She was then sent to the county hospital where she was misdiagnosed with a certain kind of meningitis. When the treatment didn't work and her condition only worsened, she was transferred to a hospital in Reno, Nevada. She later died around 4 days after.
While the news is discomforting, the health authorities of California would like to assure everyone that, so far, this is just an isolated case and that there's no foreseen harm to the public. This type of infection is very rare. There are less than 10 cases reported in the state.
Once the amoeba enters the body, the symptoms can worsen very quickly that the patient could die within the next 5 days. Of those who were infected, 2 have been known to survive.
