A Missouri resident is currently in intensive care after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba, likely while water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks, state health officials confirmed Wednesday. The infection, caused by Naegleria fowleri, is the third confirmed case in Missouri since 1962, following previous cases in 1987 and 2022. Preliminary information suggests the patient was exposed to the amoeba while engaging in recreational water activities at the lake. Health authorities said the source of exposure is under investigation.
Naegleria fowleri infections remain extremely rare in the U.S., with fewer than 10 cases annually, but they are usually fatal. The amoeba is found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and poorly chlorinated pools, and infections occur when contaminated water enters the nose and reaches the brain. Symptoms, which appear rapidly, include fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Cases progress quickly and are usually diagnosed only through specialized laboratory tests. Experts warn that climate change, which is warming waterways and increasing organic matter through flooding, is creating conditions that may lead to more frequent infections during the summer months.
Missouri health officials stressed that the amoeba is naturally occurring, cannot be removed from lakes or rivers, and poses no threat if ingested through the mouth. Similar cases have been confirmed this summer, including the death of a 12-year-old in South Carolina and a 71-year-old woman in Texas who became infected through nasal irrigation with tap water. States such as Louisiana also monitor warm water sources due to the potential presence of Naegleria fowleri, which has been identified in multiple southern states over the years.
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