27/07/2025
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Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is a rare but deadly microscopic organism that has recently been spreading through tap water in parts of the United States. This parasite can enter the human body when contaminated water flows into the nose—typically during activities like swimming in warm freshwater or rinsing sinuses with unboiled or untreated tap water. Once inside, it travels up the olfactory nerve into the brain, where it causes a fast-acting and almost always fatal condition called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Although infections remain extremely rare, recent fatal cases have drawn renewed attention to the risks of using unboiled tap water in nasal irrigation devices such as neti pots. The amoeba does not pose a threat when swallowed—it only causes harm when water enters the nasal passages. To reduce the risk, health officials strongly recommend using only sterile, distilled, or previously boiled and cooled water for any form of nasal rinsing.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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