6 die from brain-eating amoeba in lakes

[rodeodance]

Source: ap

6 die from brain-eating amoeba in lakes

By CHRIS KAHN, Associated Press Writer Fri Sep 28, 2:18 PM ET

PHOENIX - It sounds like science fiction but it's true: A killer amoeba living in lakes enters the body through the nose and attacks the brain where it feeds until you die.


Even though encounters with the microscopic bug are extraordinarily rare, it's killed six boys and young men this year. The spike in cases has health officials concerned, and they are predicting more cases in the future.

"This is definitely something we need to track," said Michael Beach, a specialist in recreational waterborne illnesses for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"This is a heat-loving amoeba. As water temperatures go up, it does better," Beach said. "In future decades, as temperatures rise, we'd expect to see more cases."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_re_us/killer_amoeba;_ylt=Aky4nf1K78_w2H12iRFxLFKs0NUE

[Deja Q]

1. That puts the Ceti Eel and the willy loving Candirú fish to shame...

Either way, this amoeba gives a new definition to the phrase "giving head"... :hide:

[0007]

26. Science will name the amoeba, "Morehead Amoeba" but will

certainly not name it "Goodhead Amoeba"

[Benhurst]

2. Just when I thought it was safe to go back into the water.

Recommended #2

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. The two people in Texas died in a lake that I frequent

After the first death they said not to worry because it's so rare and wouldn't happen again.

I decided not to go back to that lake, or any of the others anyway. Everyone thought I was being foolish.

Then the second death from the same lake occurred and the same people were saying how they weren't going to the lake anymore this summer either.

The water temps are too warm for longer time spans than usual. I am beginning to wonder if this isn't producing more of these harmful amoeba and if that my be one of the reasons for the rise in infections.

Something was amiss in that lake. Of that I'm convinced.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. And a third went on to become pResident.

[Myrina]

19. LMAO!

:applause: :rofl:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

24. .

:spray:

[Vidar]

31. Where's that rimshot smilie? LOL.

[Bongo Prophet]

21. Which lake was this?

This would turn a personal anecdote into a public service! :)

If you don't mind my asking. :hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. Lake LBJ

It's near Austin and is third lake in the Highland Lakes chain.

[unkachuck]

4. man....

....what a way to go....it's like that old Twilight Zone episode with the earwig...yikes!

[truthisfreedom]

5. "Noseplug sales go through roof"

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. You may as well add earplugs to that

The older of the two young me that died on the lake near me caught it via his ear.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. Never swim in a "fresh water" lake in the US. It is an oxymoron.

They will all kill you. Gators. Natural bugs. Chemicals. Stick to great big bodies of salt water that can dilute the toxins.

[donsu]

18. however, the oceans are dirty to the point of extinction

all the toxic crap runs into the oceans from rivers and cities.

[ananda]

8. Global warming, doncha love it!

Heat loving amoebas that eat our brains.

Wow. Just another aspect of the future
for our young people to look forward to,
among so many wonderful things... like
no fish, birds, oxygen...

[PurgedVoter]

9. And Republicans are immune to the effects.

The Amoeba starves.

[rhiannon55]

10. LOL! Oh thank you for making me laugh, PV

Boy did I need that after reading through this thread. Yikes! And damn! My grandbabies won't get to swim in lakes. That's sad and scary as hell.

[Plucketeer]

11. Actually....

.....I think this is proof that Republicans are ardent swimmers! Look at how many are brain dead! :crazy:

Edit for typo

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. I've been bugging my kid about holding his nose under the water...

Maybe I'll get some noseplugs for him...

[Vogon_Glory]

13. Global Warming Is Good For You

Global warming is good for you. Ask any conserva-turd politico, they'll tell you.

[lligrd]

14. What A Sad Story

Would never expect something like that to happen at Lake Havasu.

[formercia]

15. Junior was a survivor

thanks to Karl.

[donsu]

17. swimming in natural waters has been off my list for at least 10 yrs.

and I'd rather not swimming pool either. too much chemicals

I love being in the water. grew up by Chesapeake Bay when it was still halfway clean.

sad

[MilesColtrane]

20. In Texas you also have to worry about...

...cottonmouths.



If we could only find a way to make the amoebae attack the snakes we'd be onto something.

[eppur_se_muova]

22. From an earlier article at CNN ... NOT incurable, but rarely diagnosed in time

"Sherin said exposure to the amoeba can be detected by an MRI and it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough, but Sherin said he believes medical personnel are not in the habit of looking for the disease."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/09/18/zarrella.killerlakes/index.html

[Honeycombe8]

25. I read this! This sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. I'd never heard

of such a thing before.

Another consequence of global warming? The article seems to say that this amoeba is growing so much and becoming a problem because of increased long-term water temperatures.

[colorado_ufo]

27. This is apparently widespread.

When I was visiting Kauai a few years ago, there was a very interesting cave that was water-filled - pretty to look at. A sign warned people about extremely harmful bacteria in the warm water, plus the cave was full of bats (with lots of guano dropping into the water, I'm sure). The cave was pitch dark, with water of indefinite depths, and who-knows-what on the bottom (like sharp rocks).

Guess what? There was a genius swimming into the cave!

[slowry]

28. .

[lonestarnot]

29. This is disturbing.

[mainer]

30. Children's cribriform plates not closed yet -- so more susceptible

We learned this way back in medical school. Surprised that the article states "unknown why kids get it more than adults." The cribriform plate is a bony barrier between the nose and the brain, and until adulthood, it remains semi-porous.