A 71-year-old woman in Texas died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba from using tap water in a nasal rinse device. The woman, who was staying at a local campground, used unboiled tap water from an RV faucet for her nasal irrigation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within four days, she developed severe neurological symptoms, including fever, headache, and altered mental status.
The woman was treated for primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and deadly brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba. Despite medical intervention, she suffered seizures and died eight days after symptoms appeared. Testing confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of using distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled tap water for nasal irrigation to prevent such infections. Naegleria fowleri is often found in warm freshwater and is more prevalent during hotter months. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, typically during activities like swimming. While fewer than 10 cases are reported annually in the U.S., most are fatal, with a death rate exceeding 97%.