A 71-year-old woman has died from a brain infection caused by tap water that entered her sinuses. According to the CDC, the single-celled organism Naegleria fowleri can travel to the brain and cause a fatal infection if ingested through the nose.
The Texas Department of State Health Services believes the woman contracted the amoeba while using an RV’s water system at a campground. The condition is rare but deadly, with nearly 97% mortality rate.
There have been 157 reported cases in the US since 1962, with Texas and Florida being hotspots for this infection. In 2023, another Florida woman died from the same cause after using tap water for nasal rinsing.
Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri include fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting, progressing to severe symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Even with treatment, most infected individuals will die.
To avoid exposure, experts recommend boiling water before using it for sinus rinses or distilling water, avoiding freshwater bathing, and supervising children playing with sprinklers. If you haven’t been home in a few days, let water run for several minutes in sinks or showers to flush out stagnant water.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/02/lifestyle/texas-woman-died-after-rinsing-sinuses-with-infected-tap-water