Brain amoeba found in tests of water supply where boy died in Louisiana

[Tx4obama]

Brain amoeba found in tests of water supply where boy died in Louisiana

(CNN) -- Tests of a Louisiana parish's water supply confirmed the presence of a rare amoeba blamed for last month's death of a 12-year-old boy.

The state's Department of Health & Hospitals said Thursday the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which causes a generally fatal brain infection, was found in tests of St. Bernard Parish water conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control.

The water is safe to drink, state officials said, although they continued to caution against getting water in the nose, the route the amoeba takes.

The parish water supply came under suspicion because its chlorine levels were low. Chlorine kills the amoeba, said state Assistant Health Secretary J.T. Lane.

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Full article here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/us/louisiana-brain-amoeba-water-supply/index.html

[HeiressofBickworth]

1. Ok, fess up

what water district cut costs by reducing the use of chlorine?

Come on -- you know in your heart that was the cause, right?

[Mnemosyne]

2. I don't understand why the water is claimed safe to drink, yet to avoid getting it in your nose. nt

[MissB]

4. It won't kill you if you drink it. It may kill you if it gets into your nose.

Yeah, that's scary.

The only way this amoeba can get into your brain is by traveling along your nasal passages. You can swallow it all day long and not be affected.

[Mnemosyne]

6. Thanks! That just seems very strange, I wouldn't touch it if paid. nt

[boston bean]

3. Do the citizens of that town, not shower?

[TwilightGardener]

5. Did you ever stick your little kids in a bathtub? A backyard kiddie pool?

They splash around, submerge themselves. How do you reliably keep them from getting water up the nose? Yikes.

[Jenoch]

7. Two children died from swimming in a small

lake not too far from me, but the deaths occurred a couple years apart.

This infection is almost always fatal but a girl is recovering after being infected. She is only the third known survivor in the last 50 years.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1453310