Florida: Naegleria fowleri case confirmed in Charlotte County, Possibly contracted via sinus rinsing

By dorg6 On Feb 23, 2023

The Florida Department of Health (DOH-Charlotte) in Charlotte County confirmed one case in Florida recently Naegleria Fowleri, Possibly as a result of sinus rinsing practices using tap water.

Charlotte County, Florida (in red) / David Bennick

Naegleria Fowleri It is a single-celled, microscopic living amoeba. injury b Naegleria Fowleri He is rare It can only happen when amoeba-contaminated water enters the body through the nose. You I can not By drinking tap water.

In rare cases, the amoeba can cause an infection in the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). DOH-Charlotte, as part of the multi-agency response, continues to investigate how these infections occurred and is working with local public facilities to identify any potential links and take any necessary corrective actions.

Charlotte County residents must follow these instructions:

When making sinus rinse solutions, use only distilled or sterile water. Tap water should be boiled for at least 1 minute and cooled before rinsing the sinuses.
Don’t let water get up your nose or smell the water in your nose when showering, bathing, washing your face, or swimming in hard plastic tubs/small inflatable pools.
Don’t jump into or put your head under the shower water (bathtubs, small hard plastic pools/inflatable tubs) – walk or lower yourself into it.
Do not allow children to play unsupervised with hoses or sprinklers, as they may accidentally spray water into their noses. Avoid slipping, sliding, or other activities in which it is difficult to prevent water from going up your nose.
Keep small, hard plastic pools clean by vacuuming, scrubbing, and letting them dry after each use.
Ensure that your pool is adequately disinfected before and during use.

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The department works with healthcare facilities to monitor for any signs of additional infection. If you experience any of these symptoms after swimming in warm lakes or rivers, or after exposure to nasal water such as sinus rinses, Seek medical help Immediately: