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A 71 year old woman from Texas has tragically passed away after contracting a brain-eating infection, believed to have been caused by tap water. The woman, whose identity has not been
disclosed, is thought to have fallen victim to an amoeba, a single-celled organism. She sadly died last year, with the county health department suggesting that she likely contracted the
infection after using tap water from an RV's system at a campground to rinse her sinuses. Despite this alarming incident, The Texas Department of State Health Services has reassured the
public that the area's tap water remains safe to drink. They emphasised that infections from amoebas are extremely rare and can only infect humans through the nose. However, this case
has sparked debate among experts. The unfortunate event "reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the
importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards," according to a report in the Daily Mail. In the United States, only
a few deaths each year are attributed to brain-eating amoeba, typically among individuals who have been swimming in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes and rivers. The deadly organism,
known as Naegleria fowleri, has a high fatality rate, with approximately 97% of those infected succumbing to it. Only a very small number of Americans have survived after contracting the
amoeba. Texas has notably become a hotspot for fatalities, ranking among the states with the highest number of amoeba infection cases in US history. Of the recorded 160 cases, 39 have
occurred in Texas, reports the Express. The minuscule organism typically results in death as it causes a disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or amebic meningitis. Initial
symptoms include headache, vomiting and nausea, but as the infection advances, it can lead to cognitive decline, stiff neck and light sensitivity. In its later stages, the illness triggers
severe swelling and decay of the brain and spinal cord, which is usually the cause of death. Alarmingly, there are currently no known treatments for this condition. In the Texas case, the
woman tragically developed severe neurological symptoms within just four days of infection. She experienced fever, headache and altered mental status after using a nasal irrigation device
filled with contaminated tap water. Despite medical efforts to stabilise her condition, she developed seizures and sadly passed away just eight days after the onset of symptoms. Following
her death, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the presence of N.fowleri in the patient's brain and spinal fluid. Only three recorded cases are typically documented
in the US each year, and almost always transpire over the warmer months when numerous families flock to lakes and ponds to cool down. Whilst in the water, the amoeba, which is 1200 times
smaller than a US dime coin, enters the body via the olfactory nerve by swimming up a person's nose. This provides it with a direct route into the brain, where infection can then
establish itself. The duration it takes for the illness to progress varies from individual to individual, but it can take anywhere from one to nine days before a person begins exhibiting
symptoms, with death usually ensuing within five days. Although the amoeba is incredibly rare, members of the public are still advised to avoid swimming in untreated water this summer,
especially in holiday hotspots like Florida where temperatures can rapidly escalate. Fortunately, because the amoeba only resides in fresh water, this means ocean swimming is generally
considered safe.