Brain-Eating Amoeba in Florida: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County has confirmed a rare and often fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.” Officials report the infection may have occurred after a person rinsed their sinuses with unboiled tap water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose, typically when people swim, dive, or submerge their heads in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, or improperly disinfected water. Once inside, the amoeba travels to the brain, where it destroys tissue and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)—an infection that is almost always fatal.

Symptoms to Watch For

Symptoms usually begin about 5 days after exposure and often resemble bacterial meningitis. These may include:

• Headache

• Fever

• Nausea and vomiting

As the infection progresses, more severe symptoms may appear:

• Stiff neck

• Confusion and disorientation

• Seizures

• Hallucinations

• Coma

Once symptoms begin, the disease typically progresses rapidly and leads to death within about 5 days.

How to Protect Yourself

Because Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater and inadequately treated water, it’s crucial to follow strict hygiene and safety measures:

Safe Water Practices:

• Use only distilled or sterile water for sinus rinsing.

• If using tap water, boil for at least 1 minute, then cool before use.

Showering and Bathing:

• Avoid getting water up your nose when bathing, showering, or washing your face.

• Do not sniff water into your nose.

Pools and Play Areas:

• Avoid jumping into or submerging your head in bathtubs or small pools (especially blow-up or hard plastic ones).

• Supervise children playing with hoses or sprinklers to prevent water from entering the nose.

• Avoid activities like slip-n-slides where water may enter the nose unintentionally.

• Clean small pools by emptying, scrubbing, and drying after each use.

Swimming Safety:

• Ensure your swimming pool is properly disinfected.

• Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater, hot springs, and thermally polluted areas, especially near power plants.

• Avoid digging or stirring up sediment in shallow, warm freshwater.

Additional Resources

• Charlotte County Health Department Notice

• CDC FAQ: Naegleria fowleri

• Thermal Pollution and Amoeba Risk (PubMed)

• Dangers of Warm Discharge Water (PubMed)

Support the Cause

To help spread awareness and fund environmental health research, support Fight for Zero, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting natural resources and eliminating environmentally linked diseases. Learn more at: fight4zero.org