A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba, possibly from rinsing his sinuses with tap water.

今日は「水道水で副鼻腔をすすいだためか、脳を食べるアメーバで男性が死ぬ」という恐ろしい記事を見ていきましょう。(English) Today's terrifying article is "A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba, possibly from rinsing his sinuses with tap water."

A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba, possibly from rinsing his sinuses with tap water.

//Summary - Level-C2//

A man in southwest Florida has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba, possibly contracted from rinsing his sinuses with tap water. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri is typically found in warm freshwater and can cause a fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Infections are rare but most common in Southern states during warmer months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against using tap water for sinus rinsing and recommends using distilled or sterile water or boiled and cooled tap water. Swimmers should also take precautions to avoid water entering their noses.

1)

A man in southwest Florida died after becoming infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba, which state health officials say was "possibly due to sinus rinse practices utilising tap water."

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed Thursday that the unidentified man died of Naegleria fowleri.

2)

State and local health and environmental agencies "continue to coordinate on this ongoing investigation, implement protective measures, and take any necessary corrective actions," they added.

The single-celled amoeba lives in warm fresh water and, once ingested through the nose, can cause a rare but almost always fatal brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tallied 157 PAM infections in the U.S. between 1962 and 2022, with only four known survivors (a fifth, a Florida teenager) fighting for his life since last summer, according to an online fundraiser by his family).

3)

Agency data suggests this is the first infection reported in February or March.

Infections are most common in Southern states and during warmer months when more people swim—and submerge their heads — in lakes and rivers.

But they can also happen when people use contaminated tap water to rinse their sinuses as part of a religious ritual or an at-home cold remedy.

The CDC says the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within about five days of symptom onset.

4)

The first symptoms of PAM can include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, and they typically start about five days after infection (though they can begin anywhere within one to 12 days). Later symptoms can include a stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations and coma.

Florida health officials emphasised that Naegleria fowleri has not been shown to spread through water vapour, aerosol droplets, person-to-person transmission or drinking water.

"Infection with Naegleria fowleri is RARE and can only happen when water contaminated with amoebae enters the body through the nose," they said. "You CANNOT be infected by drinking tap water."

That said, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

5)

How safe are sinus rinses?

Many people use net pots — or nasal irrigation devices like bulb syringes and squeeze bottles — to flush out their clogged sinuses when feeling under the weather.

The Food and Drug Administration says those are "usually safe and effective ... when used and cleaned properly."

6)

That means no rinsing with tap water, which may contain low levels of organisms safe to swallow but not ingest through the nose.

Instead, use distilled or sterile water, which is sold in stores, or tap water that has been boiled for 3-5 minutes and then cooled until lukewarm (it can then be stored in a clean, closed container and used within 24 hours).

You could also use a special water filter — labelled "NSF 53" or "NSF 58" — to remove those germs.

7)

Then ensure your hands and the device are clean and completely dry, and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Afterwards, the FDA suggests washing the device, drying the inside with a paper towel or letting it air dry before you use it again.

8)

Splish, splash and stay cautious

The CDC warns that people should "always assume" there's a risk for infection when entering warm fresh water.

"The only sure way to prevent an infection is to avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater, especially during summer," officials say.

9)

If you are going swimming, try to prevent water from going up your nose.

That means no jumping or diving into bodies of warm fresh water, and avoid putting your head underwater in hot springs and other untreated geothermal waters.

You should also avoid digging in or stirring up sediment in shallow waters since that's where amebae are more likely to live.

And either hold your nose shut, use nasal clips or keep your head above water while swimming.

10)

Florida health officials say people should also try not to let water into their noses while bathing, showering, or washing their face.

They recommend keeping plastic or inflatable pools clean by emptying, scrubbing and letting them dry after each use and disinfecting swimming pools with chlorine before and during use.

Officials also warn not to let kids play with hoses or sprinklers unsupervised and to avoid slip-n-slides or other similar activities where it's hard to prevent water from getting in the nose.

A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba, possibly from rinsing his sinuses with tap water

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160980794/neti-pot-safety-brain-eating-amoeba