Missouri resident diagnosed with brain-eating amoeba after water skiing, officials believe

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A person is undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba infection in Missouri, officials announced.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS) said in a news release on Aug. 13 that the individual, an adult, has been infected with Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba.

Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that can cause a rare, but nearly always fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typically, fewer than 10 people a year get PAM in the United States, according to the CDC. Last month, a 12-year-old boy died from a PAM infection in South Carolina.

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Individual may have gotten sick after water skiing, officials say

The Missouri resident is currently being treated in an intensive care unit. There are no additional suspected cases of PAM currently being investigated in the state, MODHSS said.

Public health officials are investigating the source of the patient’s exposure. However, based on preliminary information, officials believe the patient may have been water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days prior to getting sick, MODHSS said.

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What is Naegleria fowleri? Why it’s called brain-eating amoeba

Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the CDC.

It can also be found in poorly maintained swimming pools, splash pads and tap water, the CDC says.

PAM, the infection caused by the amoeba, destroys brain tissue, which is why it is often referred to as brain-eating amoeba.

Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are very rare, though when they do happen, they are almost always fatal, according to the CDC.

How to protect against brain-eating amoeba

The CDC recommends the following measures to protect against brain-eating amoeba:

• Hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into fresh water.

• Always keep your head above water in hot springs.

• Don’t dig in shallow water because the amoeba is more likely to live there.

• Use distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri adult diagnosed with brain-eating amoeba. What to know.