All articles tagged with #warm freshwater
An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater, likely from Lake Claiborne. Infections are extremely rare and almost always fatal; this marks Louisiana's first confirmed case since 2013, with fewer than 10 U.S. cases annually.
Rising temperatures expand Naegleria fowleri’s habitat in warm freshwater, raising the global risk of deadly infections that occur when contaminated water enters the nose. Infections are rare but highly fatal (about 95–99%). Prevention centers on avoiding nasal exposure (no submerging the head, nose clips), using sterile or boiled water for nasal rinsing, and maintaining proper chlorination and flushing of water systems, as climate change broadens the amoeba’s range in recreational waters.