A 71-year-old woman died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba infection from using tap water to clear out her sinuses in Texas.
According to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a woman developed symptoms after using a nasal irrigation device with tap water from an RV water system at a Texas campground. The CDC said she used the unboiled water multiple times over four days before falling ill.
The CDC report says she developed severe neurologic symptoms, including fever, headache, and altered mental status.
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The woman was diagnosed with Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). This is a fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” According to the CDC, despite medical care, she suffered seizures and died just eight days after her symptoms began. Lab tests confirmed the amoeba in the woman’s cerebrospinal fluid.
The investigation revealed that the potable water tank had been filled before the woman purchased the RV three months prior, raising the possibility of contamination. It also found that the municipal water system, which was connected directly to the potable water system and bypassed the tank, might have been a source of the infection.
Less than 10 people contract PAM, with a death rate of almost 100%, according to the CDC.
“This case reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards,” the health agency stated.
