United States: A 71-year-old woman tragically succumbed to a lethal brain infection believed to have originated from using tap water in her sinus cleansing ritual.
While drinking water from the tap may seem routine in many households, professionals strongly caution against allowing unsterilized water to enter the nasal passages. Doing so risks an encounter with a deadly microbe — a perilously rare yet fatal menace known as Naegleria fowleri, often dubbed the “brain-eating amoeba.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this single-celled parasite can infiltrate the human body when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. From there, it migrates with chilling precision to the brain, inflicting catastrophic inflammation and, more often than not, death.
Although Texas health officials assert that municipal tap water in the region is potable, they suspect the woman was exposed to contaminated water sourced from an RV park’s supply while rinsing her sinuses. According to the Daily Mail, this is where she likely came in contact with the fatal organism, according to the New York Post.
Naegleria fowleri thrives in tepid, untreated freshwater bodies, such as lakes, hot springs, and now, apparently, even the water systems of recreational vehicles. The infection it causes, while mercifully rare, is almost universally deadly, erasing nearly 97% of those afflicted.
In a public statement, the CDC revealed that the deceased individual was routinely cleansing her nasal cavities with unboiled tap water, a habit now believed to have introduced the parasite directly into her system.
The infection’s onset is deceptively slow. Symptoms may remain hidden for up to two weeks post-exposure, then suddenly erupt — from manageable flu-like discomforts such as mild fever and nausea to terrifying escalations like impaired coordination, cognitive breakdowns, and violent seizures.
Once the parasite gains hold, the outcome is grim. Even aggressive medical intervention provides scant hope. Survival, in most cases, remains beyond reach.
No matter the perceived purity of one’s household water supply, experts sternly recommend boiling water or using distilled alternatives for any practice involving the sinuses. Additionally, avoid full submersion of the head in bathtubs or lakes, particularly in summer, when temperatures favor microbial growth, according to the reports by the New York Post.
Parents are further advised to monitor children who play with sprinklers or water toys, ensuring their safety from inadvertent nasal exposure. If a home’s water lines have been unused for days, letting taps run for a few minutes may help purge any lurking stagnation.