Health Department Advises Precautions Against Freshwater Amoeba
Thursday, July 3, 2014
By: Ernest Duffoo

July 3, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando - The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is warning residents to be cautious about infectious amoeba in warm bodies of freshwater.

[Naegleria fowleri, the infectious amoeba travels to the brain through the nose. Photo courtesy of the CDC.]

This comes after a Seminole county child died this week from a rare infection caused by an amoeba from a hot spring overseas.

Dain Weister of Seminole County’s Health Department says there are ways to enjoy freshwater with little risk:

“Nose clips or holding the nose, if you’re going to be diving in specifically, is effective," Weister said.

"We also even encourage people, if they absolutely want to get in a lake, in any kind of fresh water, to just even try to keep their heads above water.”

Officials say people should seek medical attention if they have headaches, fever, nausea or disorientation after swimming in any warm body of water.