Louisiana Resident Hospitalized After Naegleria fowleri Infection from Lake Claiborne
A Louisiana resident was hospitalized with primary amebic meningoencephalitis after swimming in Lake Claiborne, prompting health officials to warn about the rare, often fatal Naegleria fowleri infection.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on Aug. 19 that a resident was hospitalized with primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) after swimming in Lake Claiborne. PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled organism that can enter the brain through the nasal passages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a 97% fatality rate, with only four U.S. survivors out of 173 cases since 1937. Louisiana has recorded three confirmed cases since that time.
Health officials issued a Health Alert Network advisory on Aug. 18 to alert healthcare providers to the symptoms and reporting procedures. Early symptoms typically appear within one to nine days and include severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, followed by neck stiffness, seizures, altered mental status, hallucinations and coma. Diagnosis is often made after death due to the rapid progression of the disease.
The amoeba thrives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, hot springs and inadequately chlorinated pools. The CDC notes that there is currently no established standard to reduce its presence in water. It advises the public to avoid submerging the head in warm freshwater, to cover the nose or use nose clips when water activities are unavoidable.