Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 hrs ago
Naegleria fowleri found in six artificial lakes in Mérida
Yucatán health officials found Naegleria fowleri in six artificial lakes in Mérida on October 14.
They tested the lakes after a fatal infection was recorded in September and temporarily restricted contact with the water.
The amoeba can live in warm freshwater, but infections are extremely rare, and its presence does not mean visitors are infected.
It can cause a severe brain infection when contaminated water enters through the nose, often during swimming or diving.
Drinking the water does not cause infection, and the illness does not spread from person to person.
Early signs can include a severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, and the disease can worsen quickly.
Anyone with these symptoms after recent activity in warm freshwater should seek medical care immediately and mention the possible exposure.
Yucatán’s Health Secretariat announced that Naegleria fowleri was detected in six artificial lakes in Mérida.
Authorities temporarily restricted contact with the water.
The testing followed a fatal infection case recorded in September.
The amoeba can cause a severe, potentially fatal brain infection, but infections are extremely rare.
The presence of the amoeba in the lakes does not mean visitors are infected.
- Who
- Yucatán’s Health Secretariat announced the detection.
- What
- Naegleria fowleri was found in six artificial lakes, and contact with the water was temporarily restricted.
- When
- The detection was announced on October 14; testing followed a fatal infection case recorded in September.
- Where
- Six artificial lakes in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
- Why
- The studies were conducted after a fatal infection case was recorded in September. The reason for the temporary restriction was to limit contact with the affected water.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A fatal infection case was recorded.
Yucatán’s Health Secretariat announced the amoeba’s detection in six artificial lakes in Mérida and temporarily restricted contact with the water.
- Organism
- Naegleria fowleri
- Affected sites
- Six artificial lakes
- Location
- Mérida, Yucatán
- Announcement
- October 14
- Testing context
- A fatal infection case was recorded in September
What people are saying
Encontrar esta ameba en el ambiente no significa que exista una epidemia ni que las personas que visitaron estos lugares estén enfermas. La infección es extraordinariamente rara