Health Scientists Discovered an Amoeba that Infects Human Brain
By Adnan Mahfuz
Rare amoebae infections have been reported in the state of Florida in the United States. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) says a man in Hillsborough County has been infected with this unicellular organism called Naegleria Fowleri. These microscopic organisms cause infections in the human brain, which can have serious consequences.
This amoeba usually found in warm freshwater. It enters the body through the nose.
The Florida DOH did not report the condition of the patient infected with the amoeba. None could say where the infection occurred. However, this amoeba is not transmitted from one person to another.
The infection has been reported in the southern states of the United States. However, it is rare in Florida. Only 37 people have been infected since 1962. On July 3, the Department of Health (DOH) warned Hillsborough County residents about the amoeba infection.
Health officials told residents not to touch their noses with water from taps or other sources. Amoebae can be transmitted to humans through water from lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals as the weather is slightly warmer in July, August, and September.
A person infected with Naegleria Fowleri amoeba has symptoms of fever, vomiting, and nasal pain. Most patients die within a week.
The DOH urges people to seek medical advice immediately if they have these symptoms because this disease spreads very fast.
The DOH says, remember, preventive measures against amoebae can ensure a safe summer. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the infection of Naegleria Fowleri is rare in the United States.
Between 2009 and 2018, only 34 cases of the infection were reported in the United States.
