Officials have confirmed that a brain-eating strain of amoeba called Naegleria Fowleri have been detected in the water system of St. Bernard parish, which is located five miles outside of New Orleans. This is the second time that such bacteria have been found in the same area in a span of two years. Because of this latest finding, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals directed the implementation of a chlorine "burn" intervention, which will run for 60 days to guarantee that the bacteria will be eliminated from the water supply.
The water was being flushed and re-examined to identify if the amoeba can be found anywhere else within the water supply system that runs 225 miles long, said Jacob Groby, quality control chief for St. Bernard Parish Water and Sewer Division. The prevalence of the bacteria is not yet clearly established; this is because the two water sources that yielded positive results came from untreated water and the other is from a station that may have been in contact with ground water. Groby, however, revealed that due to the decrease of population after hurricane Katrina and the elevated utilization of eco-friendly equipment, lesser water has been treated. These conditions have resulted in the water being stagnated for longer periods of time and eventually losing chlorine content.
Naegleria fowleri is a bacterial pathogen that is transmitted via contact to the host's nose. Infections due to the said bacteria is uncommon and records say that the few cases reported happened after swimming or diving in freshwaters including rivers and lakes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds the public, however, that Naegleria fowleri cannot cause infection if contaminated water is drank. Infection can only be possible if the water goes up into the nose.
According to CDC, the best preventive measure that one can do is to stay clear from warm freshwater places. Water-related activities and swimming may still be performed; however, individuals should always protect their noses so that water will not go inside. Things to do to prevent Naegleria fowleri infection when swimming include:
As much as possible, keep head above warm freshwater when performing activities. However, if swimming or diving is inevitable, use nose clips or hold the nose firmly.
Do not lower down head into the waters of hot springs and other places with thermal, untreated waters.
Know when temperatures rise and avoid going to places with freshwater during these times.
Do not stir or dig soil or sediments found under shallow warm freshwater places.
These interventions are not scientifically-proven to prevent Naegleria fowleri infections because very few cases of infection have been reported that evidence of effectivity is hard to determine, says the CDC.
Other tips to help prevent contracting the amoeba infection include:
Boil water for one minute and cool it down prior to use. For water obtained from places above 6,500 in elevation, bring it to a boil for three minutes.
Filter water designed to rid pathogens lurking in waters. As per CDC's recommendation, filters labelled with "NSF 53," "NSF 58" or "absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller" may be used.
Buy drinking water that is labelled "sterile" or "distilled."
Disinfect water to make sure that it is free of amoeba and other pathogens. The use of chlorine bleach may be effective when the correct level and time of use are followed.
Do not sniff water when bathing, washing the face or swimming in pools.
Supervise children when playing outside. Do not let them play with the water hose as they may squirt water up their noses.
Let water from the hose run continuously for about five minutes before use to flush out the pipes, especially after authorities have announced that they have just raised the disinfectant level.
The risk of getting infected with Naegleria fowleri is very low. Although millions of exposure to the bacteria have been reported, only 10 cases of infections have been confirmed from 2005-2014 in the US. Nonetheless, preventive measures must still be performed to avoid illnesses and health problems.
Photo: Steve Jozefczyk | Flickr
