this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025

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Texas woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after cleaning sinuses with tap water (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 6 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world

202 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The woman contracted a fatal infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba and died eight days after developing symptoms.

A Texas woman died from an infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba days after she cleaned her sinuses using tap water, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case report.

The woman, an otherwise healthy 71-year-old, developed "severe neurologic symptoms," including fever, headache and an altered mental status, four days after she filled a nasal irrigation device with tap water from her RV's water system at a Texas campsite, the CDC report said.

She was treated for primary amebic meningoencephalitis — a brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba." Despite treatment, the woman experienced seizures and died from the infection eight days after she developed symptoms, the agency said.

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[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

She has just been nominated to be RFK jr's deputy.

[–] JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I'm getting convinced kennedy's worm caused this.

[–] peregrin5@lemm.ee 12 points 6 days ago (4 children)

My libertarian uncle swore basically anything could be cured with a neti pot. He forced me to use one when I was having issues with allergies.

It didn't help one bit and was one of the most uncomfortable experiences in my life. This just turns me off to it even more.

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[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago (13 children)

Where I live (France) the recommendation is to take lukewarm water, add salt, and that's it.

Is texas water catastrophically bad or am I totally wrong (or both)?

[–] slackassassin@sh.itjust.works 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

It was from the water tank of an rv.

But also, the quality of water systems in the us are more localized to smaller regional areas and not uniform state wide. Especially not in a large state like texas.

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[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is safe, if you boil the water.

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[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 6 points 5 days ago (14 children)

Anyone know if you can inhale these from a humidifier?

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[–] PM_ME_WRISTS_GIRL@lemmynsfw.com 10 points 6 days ago

I don't know if brain eating amoebae are a common occurrence in tap water, but it woud explain a lot about Texas.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Skill issue, didn't watch House M.D.

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[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 2 points 4 days ago

New fear unlocked!

[–] xeekei@lemmy.zip 4 points 5 days ago (7 children)

Can this happen in Sweden as well? 'Cos I clean mine with shower water almost every shower.

[–] Quexotic@infosec.pub 6 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Use distilled ONLY. With good chlorinated city water systems it's still very unlikely to happen, but it's such a horrible way to go, just get some distilled from the store.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 5 days ago

The amoeba can survive chlorination, that's why boiled or distilled is necessary

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[–] milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I believe the amoeba grows in warm water, which is why hot springs in New Zealand are at risk. So hopefully you're more safe! You might want to check better info than me though!

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[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

For as much as I despise the pool water that comes out of my tap I can at least feel safe using my neti pot.

[–] PmMeFrogMemes@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

pool water or no, it's safer distilled water.

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[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 5 days ago

Apparently this is why you can’t actually go in the Roman Baths in Bath.

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