The title sounds like something out of a horror film, but it is all too real. A 4-year-old boy recently died after coming into contact with the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which travels up the nose and into the brain. Children from other states have become sick or even died due to this same amoeba. Interestingly, you will not become sick if you drink water contaminated by this amoeba as it has to travel up the nasal passage to reach the brain. Symptoms of the infection include vomiting, headache, fever, nausea, as well as a stiff neck. Once symptoms begin, the person can die within 1 to 12 days.
Obviously if this amoeba became widespread it would have drastic effects on our counrty's health. Cases do not seem to be especially common, as there were only 32 cases between 2001 and 2010 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Apparently 99 percent of those who contract the infection die, and that is a very ominous percentage. The family of this boy is most likely going through a very difficult time. The story is tragic, and my heart goes out to these people. The CDC is apparently developing an anti-amoeba drug which will hopefully help provide a cure for this dangerous infection.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/health/amoeba-death/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews
This is concerning. We are constantly hearing about new life threatening diseases and infections, the list is continuously getting longer. Although this infection is obviously not very common, 32 people have gotten it and almost all of them have died from it. It is surprising to me how quickly it can kill you. Hopefully this anti-amoeba drug will prevent it from ever taking another person's life.
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