Potential exposure to Naegleria fowleri related to Waco Water Park



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According to a report from the Waco Tribune-Herald, a New Jersey resident would have been infected with a "brain amoeba", Naegleria fowleri, while he was surfing in a wave pool at the BSR Cable Park Surf Resort in Waco, Texas ).

The deceased was identified as Fabrizio Stabile, 29, of Ventnor.

In an email sent by Candice Hoffmann from CDC to News on the epidemics today:

CDC Assists Waco-McLennan County Public Health District in Investigation into a Naegleria fowleri exposure in an aquatic facility. A small CDC team collected samples for Naegleria fowleri tests and will work with the Ministry of Health on recommendations to provide the facility on how to reduce potential exposures. Preliminary test results should be ready later next week.

BSR Cable Park owner Stuart E. Parsons Jr. stated that the BSR Surf Resort places a high value on the safety of its customers and will continue to comply with requests from the CDC and the local health unit as part of investigation.

Naegleria Fowleri: a personal story

Parsons said the park had deliberately shut down pending CDC test results.

Naegleria fowleri Image / CDC
Naegleria fowleri
Image / CDC

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba that is a unicellular living organism. It can cause a rare and devastating infection brain called primary amoeba meningoencephalitis (PAM). Amoebae are usually found in warm fresh waters such as lakes, rivers, ponds and channels.

Infections can occur when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it traveling to the brain where it causes PAM (which destroys brain tissue) and is usually fatal. Infections usually occur when it is hot for prolonged periods, resulting in an increase in the amount of water the temperatures and lower water levels.

Naegleria fowleri infections are rare. Most infections occur during exposure to contaminated recreational water. Cases due to the use of neti pots and to the practice of ablution have been documented.

According to the CDC, only four out of 143 people infected in the United States between 1962 and 2017 survived.

You can not be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water and the amoeba is not found in salt water.

Initial symptoms PAM usually start within 1 to 7 days after infection. Initial symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms may include stiff neck, confusion, loss of balanced, seizures and hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease is progressing rapidly.

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