CDC confirmed the first death case from the brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria Fowleri.
The international health agency didn't disclose the exact age of the victim.
(Photo : Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh Mela on February 9, 2013 in Allahabad, India.
But, officials said that the U.S. resident is a child. During a news conference, Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse noted that the symptoms of the brain-eating single-celled microbe appeared five days after the victim swam.
The young individual was believed to have been exposed to the Naegleria Fowleri on Aug. 8 while swimming in a shallow area of the Elkhorn River.
CDC Confirms First Death From This Brain-Eating Amoeba
According to 9News AU's latest report, the child was hospitalized 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Unfortunately, the victim died despite receiving medical care.
(Photo : Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
A picture of a human brain taken by a positron emission tomography scanner, also called PET scan, is seen on a screen on January 9, 2019, at the Regional and University Hospital Center of Brest (CRHU - Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Brest), western France.
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This detail was confirmed by Dr. Kari Neemann, a pediatric infectious disease physician for Douglas County.
On the other hand, the Nebraska health department explained that Naegleria Fowleri could cause a brain infection called PAM (primary amebic meningoencephalitis).
Although this rarely happens, the health organization said that if the brain-eating microbe infects an individual, the results will always be fatal.
Brain-Eating Amoeba's Detials
CNN Health reported that Naegleria Fowleri is commonly found in warm rivers, freshwater lakes, ponds, and canals across the United States.
Dr. Matthew Donahue, an Nebraska epidemiologist, said that this brain-eating amoeba infection rarely happens.
"Millions of recreational water exposures occur each year, while only 0 to 8 Naegleria Fowleri infections are identified each year," said the health expert.
Because of this, many people tend to disregard this. But, Donahue provided tips on avoiding getting infected by this microbe without compromising your swimming activities.
He explained that the best thing people can do is to prevent freshwater from entering their noses. This doesn't really work 100%, but it can reduce the chance of infection.
In other news, the artificial pancreas is now being developed to prevent scar tissue buildup.
On the other hand, an Alzheimer's-diagnosing AI is expected to be more efficient than actual medical experts.
For more news updates about brain-eating microbes and other related health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
