Deadly Amoeba Killing Boys Across America

ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Something in the lakes around Orlando, Florida, has claimed the lives of three boys this summer.

Will Sellars' family says he died after being exposed to a deadly amoeba on a Florida lake.

"This thing is just there. It's lurking like some deadly thing in the water which can take our children's lives and we all have to be aware," said Orange County Health Department Director Dr. Kevin Sherin.

The "thing" isn't a fish or alligator. It is so small it cannot be seen with the naked eye. The killer that lives in the hot, fresh water is a single cell amoeba that once exposed to the human brain through the nasal passages is almost always fatal.

At first people exposed to the amoeba, naegleria fowleri, suffer from flu-like symptoms. Very quickly, in from one to 14 days, the symptoms worsen, Sherin said. "There's a downhill course. Folks lapse into a coma; there are abnormal movements of the eyes and a terrible cascade of events leading to the actual death of parts of the brain."

Link To CCN Article

The story says it's effecting 15 parks and lakes around Orlando.

They're also saying that the cases may be very under reported due to the flu like symptoms. So really, you could be on your death bed and not even be too concerned about it, at least not enough to seek proper care early enough.

But in true Florida fashion, the areas won't be closed.
Warning signs will be posted right beside the alligator signs.


CDC put out a warning a couple years ago:

ATLANTA - Federal health officials warned swimmers Thursday to take precautions in warmwater lakes and streams, mostly in the South, because of a dangerous amoeba blamed in at least eight deaths in the past two years.

All the victims, most recently a 12-year-old boy who died after swimming in a North Carolina lake in July, suffered swelling of the brain after inhaling the microscopic organism into their nasal passages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that swimmers in fresh waters of least 80 degrees hold their noses, wear nose clips or keep their heads out of the water..................

The story continues...

Last year, two cases each were reported in Texas, Arizona and Florida, and one was reported in Georgia. In July, 12-year-old Sean Stayton died after swimming in Falls Lake north of Raleigh, N.C. Family members said symptoms began with headache and fatigue, and progressed to hallucinations and high-pitched screaming.

www.sptimes.com...

TULSA, Ok. - Two children died Friday after being infected with a rare parasite associated with swimming in stagnant water, health officials said.

The boys, ages 9 and 7, did not know each other but were both believed to have been swimming in area ponds before contracting Naegleria, an amoeba that enters the body through the nose and can cause a deadly inflammation of the brain.

www.msnbc.msn.com...



Almost ever case seems to be fatal, and
what's the deal that it seems to kill mostly boys.




Edit: Bad bbcode, bad......







[edit on 19/9/2007 by anxietydisorder]

Originally posted by anxietydisorder

Almost ever case seems to be fatal, and
what's the deal that it seems to kill mostly boys.

I found this to be quite a curious parasite. One that, I might add, is not limited to Florida or the South. Amoeba Naegleria fowleri can be found anywhere there is warm stagnant water like small shallow lakes and ponds. The amoeba Naegleria fowleri can be found throughout the world where suitable conditions, for this amoeba to thrive, exist. Nevertheless, the infection that this parasite can cause is quite rare. There have only been about two hundred deaths from this infection reported in world literature.

Amoeba Naegleria fowleri

It is odd that it might appear to predominantly strike males. This is only speculation, however. I have not found a gender breakdown on rates of infection. Still, it is curious to note that the thirteen of the last fourteen cases were male (as reported in the Amoeba Naegleria fowleri link provided).
Perhaps this is due to the possibility that males might be more likely than females to dive or submerge their heads. Again, this is only speculation and one that could be gender biased. Still, diving and submerging the head provides the optimum entry for this parasite and such activity might be associated, predominantly, with males (assuming that the stereotype of young males rough-housing and diving is true).

What I find to be the most curious aspect about this report is that Amoeba Naegleria fowleri would appear to be on the increase. Given that Amoeba Naegleria fowleri requires warm, almost tepid, water to exist, it would appear that Global Warming might have had something to do with it.













[edit on 9/19/2007 by benevolent tyrant]

PHOENIX -- A 14-year-old Lake Havasu boy has become the sixth victim to die nationwide this year of a microscopic organism that attacks the body through the nasal cavity, quickly eating its way to the brain.

Aaron Evans died Sept. 17 of Naegleria fowleri, an organism doctors said he probably picked up a week before while swimming in the balmy shallows of Lake Havasu.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, Naegleria infected 23 people from 1995 to 2004. This year health officials said they've noticed a spike in cases, with six Naegleria-related cases so far -- all of them fatal. SOURCE

Another death from this parasitic amoeba? It is becoming obvious to me that one of the first noticeable effects from Global warming, as predicted, will be the rise of infectious disease. This particular affliction seems to be particularly disturbing as it is reported to be fatal "in all cases".

Once infected, most people have little chance of survival. Some drugs have been effective stopping the amoeba in lab experiments, but people who have been attacked rarely survive, Beach said.

"Usually, from initial exposure it's fatal within two weeks," Beach said.

Researchers still have much to learn about Naegleria, Beach said. For example, it seems that children are more likely to get infected, and boys are infected more often than girls. Experts don't know why.

"Boys tend to have more boisterous activities (in water), but we're not clear," he said. SOURCE

It is, as anxietydisorder noted, very curious that boys seem to be especially susceptible to this amoeba. Perhaps males lack some sort of enzyme or antibody that helps thwart the amoebas' progress upon entering the body? Of course, as the article suggests, boys might simply be more energetic and boisterous when in the water. Regardless, I find this to be quite alarming. Especially since every stagnant, warm or tepid body of water might be suspect -- even swimming pools.