A person in Missouri has been hospitalized with a rare brain-eating amoeba infection, possibly contracted while water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. The patient’s condition is being closely monitored in an intensive care unit. Health officials are investigating the source of the infection, which occurred days after the individual visited the lake.
The Naegleria fowleri organism is commonly found in warm freshwater, but primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) – the rare infection – occurs when contaminated water enters the brain through the nose. This can happen during activities like water skiing or diving.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 167 reported cases of PAM in the US between 1962 and 2024. In South Carolina, a 12-year-old boy died last month after contracting the infection, highlighting the risk associated with swimming in contaminated freshwater.
To reduce the risk of infection, health experts recommend holding your nose or wearing a nose clip when engaging in high-risk activities like water skiing or diving into lakes. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and hallucinations.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lake-of-the-ozarks-brain-eating-infection-water-skiing