Brain-eating amoeba: 2nd victim in last month

Amebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri / Wikipedia

News that a 9-year-old Virginia boy died recently of a brain infection linked to a water-borne "brain-eating amoeba" is bound to raise concern as water-lovers look for ways to cool off in the dog days of summer.

Autopsy results confirmed the cause of death as an inflammation of the brain and its lining. The victim's mother said the boy, Christian Alexander Strickland, had attended a fishing day camp at several locations the week before he died.

"It's important that people be aware of ... safe swimming messages," Dr. Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a statement.

It's the second death in the last month linked to the same parasitic infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which confirmed that a 16-year-old Floridan, Courtney Nash, died Saturday not long after swimming in St. John's river.

But the tragic circumstances surrounding the two deaths do not suggest an imminent public danger. According to the CDC, only 32 infections, known as Naegleria fowleri, were reported between 2001 and 2010. The culprit is a microscopic organism that's found in freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs that enters someone's body via the nose. From there it travels to the brain where it attacks vulnerable brain tissue.

Although the Naegleria fowleri infection has been reported around the world, most of the cases in the United States have been linked to freshwater sources in the southern states. The amoeba proliferates in stagnant freshwater lakes and ponds during hot weather.

While the odds of contracting the disease are low, the CDC offers the following advice:

[ddaryl1]

Better get rid of the EPA quick... We need more love canals

[rf35]

Would it be cheaper than a fence to dig a trench along the Mexican border and fill it with warm, stagnant water stocked with these little guys?

[dkb218]

The Mexicans are our friends. Haven't you noticed that not one elected official is really serious about closing the border? Our greedy rich corporations need this cheap labor hence they lobby congress to keep the borders open. How else will they replace your good paying job with a below minimum wage job? Don't be mad at the Mexicans who are only trying to fed their families. Be upset with the greed the corporations breed. Be mad at you paid off elected official.

[Okiefolks]

Obama doesnt have anything to worry about..........

[karek40]

Lets see, death results in 1 to 12 days but you should contact your physician immediately. Reason - wealth migrates to doctors as we try to avoid our inevitable end and they would like to make as much as they can before you die.

[skithebumps]

Brain-eating amoeba - as a fan of 50's sci-fi, all I can say is....cool!

[RedDeath50]

Their were several brain-eating amoebae at the last teabagger gathering.

Sadly, they all starved to death!!

[AlwaysIrishWench]

LOL!! Now that is funny.

[ddaryl1]

:rimshot:

[UForgotPoland]

Another reason not to live in the south.

[amerilatino]

Believe me, there are many. As a 5-year resident I can attest to the fact that recession-resistant job markets and blizzard-free weather are powerful compensators, though.

[hsinco-2009]

Yeah, how's the heat wave treating you?

[bajajohn1]

I have been wondering for some time whether this is what has happened to the Tea Party and Republican people. Look at what happened in Iown, their whole bodies were taken over by Alien Pods. Turned them into flesh-eating Zombies. It's true, I saw the movie.

[dnamj]

wow, this is actually pretty scary. I hope this bug doesn't adapt to colder temperatures and spread.