A water supply in Louisiana has tested positive of a potentially fatal "brain eating" amoeba. This is the second time it happened over the last 2 years.
Two of the five water supply sites in St. Bernard Parish found in the southeast portion of New Orleans were discovered to have Naegleria fowleri, a type of pathogen that occurs naturally in water including lakes. The water division in the area isn't sure how the amoeba develops as it is present in both treated and untreated water. The treated water, moreover, has been given the recommended amount of chlorine. However, it's possible that the treated water was mixed with contaminated ground water.
The water supply runs for about 200 miles and serves at least 44,000 people. Before, more than 60,000 were being served, but many had already left after Hurricane Katrina. In order to eliminate the bacteria, the officials are planning a chlorine burn within the next 2 months.
The amoeba doesn't have any harmful effect on the body when the water touches the skin or when it is drunk. However, it becomes dangerous when the water with the amoeba gets into the nose. The pathogen can inch its way in to the brain, where it can cause severe damage to the tissues.
Although infection of this amoeba is very rare, the death rate is also very high. Only 3% of those who have been infected will be able to survive. So far, two have been reported to have died due to the brain-eating amoeba: one in Minnesota and the other in California.
The symptoms of the infection do not occur immediately. Usually, it takes as long as 5 days before they begin to appear. By then, the patient would have stiff neck, nausea, headaches, and fever. As the damage to the brain worsens, he or she may develop seizures and hallucinations. Coma is usually the end stage of the infection.
