After a guy who was swimming at a beach in Iowa became infected with a brain-eating amoeba and is currently battling for their life in the intensive care unit, the beach has been temporarily closed.
Since July 7, the beach at the Lake of the Three Fires State Park has been closed due to a proven illness with Naegleria fowleri in a resident of Missouri, according to a statement.
The CDC is conducting tests to determine whether the dangerous amoeba is present at the lake, but the findings may not be ready for several days.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services verified that although the Missouri victim’s identity has not been released by the authorities, they are receiving PAM treatment. PAM is not infectious, yet it may be fatal.
Authorities have already confirmed the patient’s illness, but they are looking for the source of the infection.
Although other water sources around his house in Missouri are also being investigated, experts believe there is a significant possibility that he contracted the disease at the Lake of the Three Fires.
In June, a Missourian who is currently in the ICU most likely came into contact with a brain-eating amoeba at the beach in Iowa’s Lake of the Three Fires (pictured). While the CDC conducts testing, the lake is temporarily closed.
The CDC is testing to confirm the presence of the risky amoeba at the lake, but results could take several days to complete.
Authorities have not identified who the Missouri victim is, but they are being treated for primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed. PAM is not contagious, but can be life-threatening.
The patient’s case has already been confirmed, but authorities are trying to locate where he contracted.
They say there’s a high probability he was infected at the Lake of the Three Fires water spot, although water sources close to his Missouri home are also being tested.
The patient most likely caught the virus within two weeks, the Health Department informed the Des Moines Register, but it is unknown exactly when those two weeks were.
The Missouri Department of Health said on Facebook, “Public health specialists firmly feel that the lake is a likely cause.”
Missourians are currently being advised by the Health Department to use caution while near warm waters that is 115 degrees.
Since 1962, there have only been 154 confirmed instances in the US.
The amoeba is naturally present and can be found in hot springs, rivers, and lakes. The free-living tiny single-celled living creature typically infects individuals when they drink polluted water and can result in PAM in patients.
Headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and other symptoms are some of the signs.