Recently, there have been several reports of food contamination and viruses taking over towns. However, Salmonella isn’t the only threat that is taking over. Recently, a swimmer from Oklahoma died from a certain species of amoeba that feasts on human brain tissues.
After swimming in Lake Murray, the swimmer was affected by primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Even though this disease is really quite rare, its effects are deadly.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health said on Wednesday that this disease is caught mostly when water enters the victim’s nose. Therefore, advice has been given to avoid breathing in water from lakes and public pools.
It is better for a swimmer to wear nose plugs or swim in safer environments to avoid this problem. Also, swimming in cloudy water or water bodies that are green with mats of algae are surely something to avoid.
Fortunately, chlorine quickly kills this amoeba and the problem can hence be controlled. Hopefully, people will proceed with caution to avoid any more victims of this disease and avoid any more deaths.
Image: Via Flickr/J E Theriot
