It's a single-celled parasite
that can enter your body
without you realizing it.
Then this microscopic beast
works its way to your brain,
settles in and starts eating
until it leaves you comatose.
If it happens,
you're almost guaranteed to die.
Sorry about that, buddy.
But fortunately for you,
we're here to help.
Naegleria fowleri,
better known
as the brain-eating amoeba,
is a microbe
that lives in warmer
fresh waters
almost everywhere in the world.
It can infect humans via the nose
when we go for a casual swim.
Unfortunately,
tap water can also carry
these vicious, hungry microbes.
Surprisingly,
this silent killer
can't gain access
through your mouth or skin.
But when it gets into your nose,
it bypasses the nasal mucosa
and attacks your olfactory bulbs.
These are part
of your central nervous system,
a direct pathway to your spinal cord
and brain.
So, it may be safe to drink tap water,
but you need to use nose clips
when swimming in fresh water.
If you're worried about
swimming pools,
well,
maybe you should be.
I know.
Swimming pools
are not natural bodies of water,
but this killer can also lurk
in their bottoms.
In 2021,
a 3-year-old Texas boy died
after visiting a splash pad
in Arlington.
Bakari Williams developed
a fever of nearly 39 °C (102 °F)
and was unable to eat or drink.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
later confirmed
that the splash pad
was contaminated with the amoeba.
Proper pool disinfection
can kill the microbe,
but an investigation revealed
the splash pad had incomplete
water inspection records.
Don't be overconfident,
and wear nose clips
anytime you're out for a swim.
When Naegleria fowleri
isn't eating your brain,
it's feeding on microscopic organisms,
like the bacteria
that live in the sediment
found in rivers and lakes.
Walking in shallow waters
in warmer climates
or disturbing
their bottom will put you in
greater danger.
Maybe just stay in the boat for now.
Initial symptoms
are not extremely worrisome.
Headaches,
fever and vomiting
can be caused by a lot of things,
but if you've been
in fresh water recently,
you should go see your doctor
and tell them about your weekend dips.
There have only been seven reported
cases of people
surviving a brain-eating
amoeba infection.
All of them required
intensive medical care
to control the inflammation
of the brain
caused by the immune system
trying to defend
itself from the invader.
So don't be lazy
and don't skip the doc.
Fortunately,
this amoeba can't live
in cold water
or temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F).
Hit the cottage
when the water is a little cooler.
Or try a saltwater beach,
where this microbe doesn't thrive.
Hmmm.
Wait.
I think I remember some other dangers
waiting for you in the sea.
Ah, yes.
They start with this guy,
but they don’t stop there.
If you're planning on taking a dip
close to a coral reef,
you're going to want to keep watching
How to Survive.