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| Name: |
laureleg
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/25/2010 11:17:37 PM
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I heard about this water bug that kills if you get warm lake water up your nose?? You should wear nose plugs and close your eyes when you go under the water. It's scientific name is Naegleria- fowleri. It goes to your brain and causes death. Usually misdiagnosed at first. Has our lake been tested for this "bug"? I want to enjoy my first summer at the lake in my new home.
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Back Fact Sheet
* What is Naegleria?
* How does infection with Naegleria occur?
* Where is Naegleria found?
* Can I get a Naegleria infection from a disinfected swimming pool?
* How common are Naegleria infections in the United States?
* When do Naegleria infections most commonly occur?
* Can infection be spread from one person to another?
* What are the symptoms of Naegleria infection?
* Is there effective treatment for infection with Naegleria?
* What should I do if I have been swimming or playing in warm freshwater and now think I have symptoms associated with Naegleria?
* How common is Naegleria in the environment?
* Is there a routine and rapid test for Naegleria in the water?
* How does the risk of Naegleria fowleri infection compare with other water-related tasks?
* How will the public know if a lake or other water body has Naegleria?
* How can I reduce the risk of infection with Naegleria?
What is Naegleria?
Naegleria (nigh-GLEER-E-uh) is an ameba commonly found in warm freshwater and soil. Only one species of Naegleria infects people, Naegleria fowleri. It causes a very rare but severe brain infection. Most infections are fatal.
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How does infection with Naegleria occur?
Naegleria infects people by entering the body through the nose. Generally, this occurs when people use warm freshwater for activities like swimming or diving. The ameba travels up the nose to the brain and spinal cord where it destroys the brain tissue. Infections do not occur as a result of drinking contaminated water.
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Where is Naegleria found?
Naegleria fowleri is found around the world. In the United States, it has caused infections in 15 southern tier states (AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, LA, MO, MS, NC, NM, NV, OK, SC, TX, and VA). The ameba grows best in warm or hot water. Most commonly, the ameba may be found in:
* Bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers
* Geothermal (naturally hot) water such as hot springs
* Geothermal (naturally hot) drinking water sources
* Warm water discharge from industrial plants
* Poorly maintained and minimally-chlorinated or unchlorinated swimming pools
* Soil
Naegleria is not found in salt water locations like the ocean.
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Can I get Naegleria infection from a disinfected swimming pool?
No. You cannot get a Naegleria infection from a properly cleaned, maintained, and disinfected swimming pool.
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How common are Naegleria infections in the United States?
Infections are very rare even though Naegleria is commonly found in freshwater. In the 10 years from 1998 to 2007, 33 infections were reported in the U.S. Thirty-one people had contact with recreational water and two people had contact with water from a geothermal (naturally hot) water supply.
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| Name: |
Maddog
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 6:23:59 AM
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Thank you NC for this informational report.
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| Name: |
Kizma Anuice
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 8:47:05 AM
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it is defiantly there. It is primarily attracted to jetski riders. It also has been know to attack proponents of the boat ban.
Nose plugs and closing ones eyes does not work.
It can only be combated by mass quantities of beer and groups of naked women.
If you cannot get groups of naked women and mass quantities of beer, you should sell your new home to someone who can, at half of what it cost you to build it.
It might be hard to do this when the word gets out, because there are not that many people who can provide groups of naked women and mass quantities of beer.
If you intend to keep your home, you should contact Cat about purchasing a Ho's Hangout. That way you would have a leg up on the naked women part.
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| Name: |
WarEggle
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 8:49:52 AM
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....It's also attracted to dog owners who don't chip their dogs.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 8:58:32 AM
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.... And to boat operators who do not follow the second rule - "thou shalt not plow".
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Going back to Kizma's thoughts. I hear a boat with bumpers hanging over the sides will repel them to.
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| Name: |
GoneFishin
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 9:12:14 AM
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If the buggie does get ya this year at least there is no estate tax.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/26/2010 10:44:59 AM
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It also will attract mass quan tities of beer....
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| Name: |
Kudzilla
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/27/2010 7:46:17 AM
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Having been around the lake for many years hearing about this little bug I found that the only way you can see them is with goggles with orange lens.In the lake waters found in Coosa county
all you have to do is pee in the water and them little buggers don't come around.
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| Name: |
redleg6
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/27/2010 7:19:24 PM
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Lauraleg, it took me awhile to find someone who knows about the possibility of finding Naegleria Fowleri in Lake Martin waters.
According to a PhD friend at Auburn (who "worked on that critter 30 years ago while in Pennsylvania"), it's not impossible that it could be found in Alabama waters...although highly unlikely and hasn't been found in the state to his knowledge. One of the techniques used by Lake Watch volunteers tests for bacterium, but since the critter is a protozoan and takes a hi-powered microscope to identify it, we can't help.
If you are still concerned about this, I'd suggest you contact the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Thanks for asking. Dick Bronson
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| Name: |
laureleg
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| Subject: |
help from Lake Watchers
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Date:
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1/27/2010 9:54:41 PM
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Thank you for your help. I look forward to participating in any way I can to help Lake Watch when we move.
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