this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
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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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[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 3 points 2 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 1 day ago (1 children)

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

[–] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 37 points 3 days ago (18 children)

Blows my mind, all the people that use anything besides freshly filtered boiled and/or filtered water for this.

[–] jagermo@feddit.org 26 points 3 days ago (10 children)

It blows my mind, that the richest country in one of the most developed areas on the globe is unable to provide save tap water.

[–] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 60 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

tap water from her RV's water system

So basically water from a cistern. Not the public water system.

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 37 points 3 days ago

Even if it was tap water, it’s safe to drink and cook with, not necessarily to wash your frontal lobe with.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 34 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

In most if not all places, the municipal tap water is perfectly safe (old lead service lines, neglected areas, and occasional local boil-water advisories notwithstanding). Private wells are another matter, but there's often little regulation on those, but there is lots of guidance available.

N. Fowelri requires something like 30 times the standard chlorine dose to kill. In municipal water systems, the most common source is biofilm that builds up in pipes in the water system and more often in the home/customer-side service line. This is especially true for older homes and poorly maintained apartment buildings.

I know it's all the rage right now to shit on the US when and where one can, but our water system isn't the place to do it.

Refs:

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[–] isekaihero@ani.social 29 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Campsite water system for RV's. I'm wondering if it was well water, and wasn't chlorinated?

[–] GluWu@lemm.ee 30 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Very likely, but you're not even supposed to drink, let alone netipot yourself, the water directly from the water tank in a RV even if it was filled with chlorinated water. Sitting water always has the potential be become contaminated.

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[–] JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

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

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 2 days ago

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

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

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[–] VampirePenguin@midwest.social 3 points 2 days ago

Just pick your nose like a normal person. Sheesh.

[–] xeekei@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 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 2 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.

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[–] milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 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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