A 71-year-old woman from Texas has died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba while using a nasal irrigation device, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The previously healthy woman developed severe neurological symptoms after rinsing her sinuses with non-boiled water from a recreational vehicle's water system at a Texas campground.
The CDC reported last Thursday that the woman experienced fever, headache and altered mental state within four days of using the nasal irrigation device.
Medical professionals suspected she had contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but almost always fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.
Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are very rare
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Despite receiving treatment for PAM, the woman developed seizures and died eight days after her first symptoms appeared, the CDC said.
The agency confirmed that Naegleria fowleri was present in the woman's cerebrospinal fluid, stating on its website that "it is often called the 'brain-eating' amoeba because it can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue.
"Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are very rare but nearly always fatal."
Whilst the amoeba was not detected in the RV water supply itself, the CDC found the water was "inadequately disinfected".
PAM typically infects fewer than 10 people annually in the United States, but of the 164 known cases in the US between 1962 and 2023, only four people survived.
The case highlights the dangers of using tap water for nasal irrigation, which the CDC identifies as a risk factor for PAM infection.
To prevent such infections, the CDC recommends using only distilled, sterilised or boiled and cooled tap water when using nasal irrigation devices. The agency states these practices are "critical to reducing the risk for illness".
Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater environments, including lakes, rivers and hot springs.
The CDC advises holding one's nose or wearing a nose clip when jumping or diving into fresh water.
People should also keep their heads above water in hot springs and avoid digging in shallow water where the amoeba is more likely to live, according to the agency.
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Water safety is paramount when using nasal irrigation devices
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The rare case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper water safety when using nasal irrigation devices, which have become increasingly popular for treating sinus conditions.
Whilst PAM infections remain extremely rare, the near-universal fatality rate underscores the critical need to follow safety guidelines when using any water for nasal rinsing.
The CDC's recommendations extend beyond nasal irrigation to general freshwater safety, particularly during warmer months when the amoeba is most active in natural water bodies.
Health officials stress that tap water, whilst safe to drink, should never be used directly for nasal irrigation without proper treatment.
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