news.yahoo.com/.../swimming_disease_dc_1
Swimming-related brain disease claims lives
May 29, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In 2007, six people from southern states died from a rare brain infection that can occur after swimming in warm lakes and rivers, according to findings released Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, but nearly always fatal disease caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri, investigators from the CDC and the states where the infections occurred note. The microbe enters the brain through the nose and the infection causes various symptoms, including headache, neck stiffness, nausea, and vomiting.....
Naegleria is an amoeba, not bacteria which is thought to enter through cribiform plate (nose) and cause uniformly lethal meningitis. Classically, it lives in brackish swamp water. A popular spring break place in Arizona (Lake Havasu) had some cases a few years back. I don't think this is totally nasty water as Havasu is where they have had a few collegiate national championships for triathlon. Children in Arizona also got it here through what was felt to be contaminated drinking water (since route is still felt to be nasal--must have been a crazy bath--look ma! I got Naegleria fowlerii up my nose). :blah:
Naegleria is an amoeba, not bacteria which is thought to enter through cribiform plate (nose) and cause uniformly lethal meningitis. Classically, it lives in brackish swamp water. A popular spring break place in Arizona (Lake Havasu) had some cases a few years back. I don't think this is totally nasty water as Havasu is where they have had a few collegiate national championships for triathlon. Children in Arizona also got it here through what was felt to be contaminated drinking water (since route is still felt to be nasal--must have been a crazy bath--look ma! I got Naegleria fowlerii up my nose). :blah:
