August 25, 2025

A shocking health alert from Missouri! A resident of Missouri sadly died after being infected by a very rare and deadly microscopic creature called Naegleria fowleri, better known as the brain-eating amoeba. This happened at the popular Lake of the Ozarks, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced recently. The adult patient passed away Tuesday at a hospital near St. Louis. Officials told us that the infection started on August 13. So, what is this creepy Naegleria fowleri? According to the CDC, it's a tiny one-celled amoeba living freely in warm freshwater—like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It's famous (or infamous!) for attacking the brain and causing a terrifying disease called primary amebic meningoencephalitis or PAM. This sickness is extremely rare but almost always deadly. How do people get infected? The amoeba sneaks into the body when water enters the nose during swimming or diving in warm freshwater. From there, it travels up to the brain and gobbles up brain tissue. But don't panic—such infections are exceedingly rare, with under 10 cases reported annually in the US. Missouri itself has seen only two cases before this one, in 1987 and 2022. What are the early warning signs? The CDC lists headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. PAM spreads fast, leading to severe symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, hallucinations, coma, and death, often within five days. Tammy Lundstrom, an infectious disease expert, told Fox News Digital, "Early symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation, as they are also signs of bacterial meningitis." Good news? Drinking water doesn’t spread the disease. It only infects if water enters the nose. Also, it cannot spread from person to person. Treatment involves antifungal medicines and antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin. When is the risk highest? The amoeba loves warm waters, especially between 80 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, after hot weather spells or storms. People swimming or diving in warm lakes or rivers face the biggest risk. Some infections have also been linked to using tap water for nasal rinses if the water contains the amoeba. The health department gives simple safety tips: when swimming or doing water sports in warm freshwater, hold your nose shut, use nose clips, avoid stirring the muddy bottom, don't dunk your head in hot springs, and use boiled or distilled water for nasal cleaning. So next time you hit warm lakes like the Lake of the Ozarks, watch out! This rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba might be hiding just under the surface.

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Tags: Naegleria fowleri, Brain-eating amoeba, Missouri death, Pam infection, Lake of the ozarks,