An unidentified person in Arizona contracted an unknown illness that initially led officials to suspect a diagnosis of Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating” amoeba, Phoenix’s Fox 10 reported.
However, state health officials have officially ruled out the “brain-eating” amoeba after an unknown illness sparked health warnings about the deadly disease.
Officials from the Arizona Department of Health Services and Mohave County conducted a joint investigation and collected samples that were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On Wednesday, the CDC reported that samples tested negative for Naegleria fowleri, but did not reveal what caused the mystery illness.
According to the CDC, Naegleria fowleri is the only species of Naegleria amoeba that infects humans and destroys brain tissue, eventually causing inflammation and often death.
The infection only has a 3% survival rate.
The CDC reported that samples collected in Arizona tested negative for Naegleria fowleri. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. Death usually occurs within five days.
Only four people have survived of the 157 known infected people in the US between 1962 and 2022. Nearly half of the reported cases occurred in Texas and Florida.
People can become infected when water containing the amoeba enters the human body through the nose, usually when swimming in lakes and rivers.
The single-celled microbes live in warm, fresh water and soils around the world and thrive during the heat of summer in July, August and September.
The deadly amoeba lives in warm, sweet water and soil around the world and thrives during the heat of summer. fake images
The CDC has suggested that climate change “may be a contributing factor” to Naegleria fowleri infections, and it is “possible” that they “may become more common.”
Although the deadly disease is rare, there has been a worrying rise in cases in recent years – five so far this year.
Last month, 16-month-old Michael Alexander Pollock III died after contracting the amoeba while playing at an Arkansas country club’s water park.
Naegleria fowleri is the only species of amoeba that infects humans and destroys brain tissue, eventually causing swelling and often leading to death; the infection only has a 3% survival rate.Getty Images
In August, an unidentified man died in Austin, Texas, after developing the infection while swimming in Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, KXAN reported.
The previous month, Georgia star student Megan Ebenroth, 17, tragically died from an infection after swimming in a lake near her home in Dearing, McDuffie County. Also in July, 2-year-old Woodrow Bundy died from the infection, which his family believes infiltrated his body while playing in the water in Ash Springs, Nevada.
The first reported case and death from infection this year, and the first recorded in winter, occurred in February when the CDC reported that “an adult patient reportedly performed a daily nasal rinse with unboiled tap water,” which they believed led to the person to contract the infection.
More recently, Nevada officials warned visitors that the deadly amoeba was found in Lake Meade, in the hot springs below the Hoover Dam. Fortunately, no cases have been reported in the area.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn