A rare infection associated with a type of amoeba that lives in stagnant water and travels up the sinuses and infects the brain, almost always causing meningitis, has been reported in a Virginia person.
The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri proliferates in stagnant freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers when temperatures climb into the 80s, health officials said in an advisory issued Saturday about safe swimming practices.
"Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer," said Dr. Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, in a statement.
"It's important that people be aware of … safe swimming messages," Hall said.
Naegleria fowleri, sometimes called a "brain-eating amoeba," travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue.
For privacy reasons, the health department does not disclose details on individual cases but, this month, officials confirmed a case of meningitis in a person in the Central Health Region of Virginia, which includes the Richmond area.
The aunt of a 9-year-old Henrico County boy who died Aug. 5 from meningitis said waterborne-illness was mentioned as a possible cause of the illness.
"The doctor described it to us as such a slight chance that they didn't even think it would be possible," said Bonnie Strickland, aunt of Christian Alexander Strickland.
The week before Christian died from meningitis, he was his usual active self and had attended a fishing camp, his aunt said.
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Only 32 Naegleria fowleri infections were reported in the U.S. from 2001 to 2010 and, before this summer, the most recent case in Virginia was in 1969, state health officials said.
Symptoms of infection may not begin until a week or more after swimming.
To avoid waterborne illness or contaminating swimming waters, health officials advise:
- Don't swim when you have diarrhea.
- Don't swallow pool, lake, pond or river water.
- Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before and after swimming.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or changing diapers.
- Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
- Change diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside or beachside.
- Avoid swimming, diving or other activities in obviously stagnant freshwater bodies when temperatures are high and water levels are low.
- Hold your nose or wear nose plugs when underwater or when diving or swimming in hot, shallow freshwater bodies.
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