Safe Swim / Naegleria Fowleri (PAM)

Bacteria and other harmful organisms thrive in warm, standing water.

What is Naegleria Fowleri?

Naegleria fowleri is an ameba (type of one-celled organism) that can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue. It is often called the "brain-eating ameba."

Where is it found?

Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperatures and low water levels. It thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs.

There is a low level of Naegleria fowleri risk when entering any warm, freshwater.

How do you get infected by brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri)?

The most common way of being infected happens when infected water goes into your nose. From there, the amoeba travels to your brain. This typically can happen when you’re swimming, diving or doing something like water skiing in infected water.

In extremely rare cases, the infected water can be heated tap water or swimming pool water that isn’t chlorinated enough.

You can’t be infected by swallowing infected water.

What are the symptoms of infection?

Symptoms may occur within one to seven days and starts with headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you know develops any of these symptoms after swimming in freshwater.

Washington County has experienced two deaths in children related to illnesses from Naegleria fowleri.

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