OKLAHOMA CITY -
Health officials are warning the conditions are prime for a rare
but deadly amoeba that lives in Oklahoma Lakes and rivers.
The warning comes after a 6-year-old boy died Tuesday afternoon
from the waterborne illness referred to as PAM (Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis). The death
happened after the boy was swimming in the Red River on the Texas border.
That boy was from Bryan County in the
southern part of the state. State Health officials say the boy was likely
exposed the weekend of July 21.
PAM is caused when a one-celled organism, Naegleria fowleri,
found naturally
in most lakes and ponds, is forced up a swimmers nasal cavity. Swimmers
are exposed when they dive or submerge their head in contaminated water. The amoeba then
travels up the nose to the brain, where it destroys the brain tissue.
7/31/12
Related Story: Bryan County Child Dies Of Illness Caught While Swimming In
River
The amoebas multiply rapidly in very warm and stagnant water.
And Oklahoma Health officials warn conditions now are prime for the
organism. But it is also very rare. Since 1998,
six Oklahomans have died due to PAM. Victims are usually children.
"It always captures everyone's hearts and
attention of course when a case of PAM is reported, but fortunately it is very
rare," said Kristy Bradley, DVM, the state epidemiologist. "But
we are wanting to [let Oklahomans know they are] because of the heat and
lowering levels of the water that cause this organism to flourish."
Bradley says
she is surprised no one died last year in Oklahoma of PAM. However a
little boy in Kansas did die of the disease last August.
Symptoms of PAM
initially include: high fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Later, symptoms
may include stiff neck, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. PAM cannot be
spread from person-to-person. Most occurrences of PAM occur in the southern
states.
In most cases, victims are described
as primarily young, healthy individuals who have actively participated in a
recreational water activity three to seven days prior to onset of symptoms.
PAM is a severe illness that does not
respond to routine treatments. However, in those rare instances where treatment
has been successful, it was started very early in the course of illness. Death
generally occurs from three to seven days following infection with the
organism.
Health officials
encourage Oklahomans to observe these water safety tips to avoid illness while
swimming in lakes, rivers and other natural bodies of water:
- Avoid water entering nose or mouth when swimming, jumping,
diving, or dunking your head into bodies of fresh warm water.
- Hold your nose or use nose plugs when jumping or diving into
water.
- Never swim in stagnant or polluted water.
- Do not swim in areas posted as "No Swimming".
- Avoid swallowing water from rivers, lakes, streams, or stock
ponds.
- Use earplugs, swim goggles, or masks if you tend to get ear
or eye infections.
- Swim only in properly maintained pools, because chlorine
rapidly kills the amoeba.
The amoebas multiply rapidly in very warm and stagnant water.
