A deadly brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri has been found in Lake Murray in South Carolina, sparking concerns about safety. The amoeba can be found in warm bodies of fresh water and enters the body through the nose, causing deadly symptoms within days.
According to Dr. Anna Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Prisma Health, there are no federal or state recreational water standards for Naegleria fowleri. Instead of testing, officials focus on prevention by advising people to avoid getting water up their noses and using nose clips during hot weather.
State officials also warn against digging and stirring up dirt in shallow areas of fresh water, as the amoeba is commonly found in those areas. The lack of federal policies requiring states to monitor freshwater for Naegleria fowleri has led Louisiana to start monitoring public drinking water systems after several cases were reported.
Calls are being made for South Carolina to consider creating a policy to test for the deadly amoeba, but a response from state lawmakers is still pending.
Source: https://wpde.com/newsletter-daily/lake-murray-tragedy-raises-concerns-over-lack-of-testing-for-deadly-brain-eating-amoeba