Monday, August 26, 2013

Brain-eating warning suggests nose clip: Brain parasite lives in warm waters

Fox6Now.com
August 16, 2013
A brain-eating warning for a deadly parasite has been made by state health officials of Florida this week, which suggest to all swimmers to wear a nose clip when in fresh water sources, and to avoid shallow, warm waters if possible, UPI reported this Friday, Aug. 16. A 12-year-old has recently been infected with the deadly parasite, an amoeba that attacks and devours brain cells.
The brain-eating warning from the Health Department encourages people to take precautions from this dangerous amoeba. Zachary Reyna, a 12-year-old from Florida, recently was infected with the brain-devouring parasite, called amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is called Naegleria fowleri.
It is believed that Reyna was out swimming with his friends in a makeshift pond (little more than a ditch filled with warm freshwater) near his home in the first week of Aug. The next day, he suddenly fell asleep and wouldn’t wake up.
Prior to the brain-eating warning, Zachary’s mother took him to the hospital, where he was confirmed to have contracted the normally deadly parasitic disease. The cell-devouring amoeba is known to destroy brain tissue.
But 12-year-old Zachary and his family are hopeful, as a 12-year-old girl was recently diagnosed with the brain-eating amoeba, and survived with an early new drug.
The CDC is planning on administering the drug to Zac in an effort to save his life.
In line with the brain-eating warning made by the southern state, the national CDC and Florida health services are suggesting people avoid warm and shallow water, continue wearing a nose clip, and don’t stir up any underwater sediment while swimming.
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