DILLIGAF
09-20-2007, 12:20 AM
Havasu youth dies from rare amoeba at lake
By DAVID BELL
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:34 PM MST
An amoeba is believed to be the cause of death of a 14-year-old Lake Havasu City boy this past weekend.
The Mohave County Department of Public Health is working with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether Naegleria fowleri in Lake Havasu killed Aaron Evans by causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation that leads to the destruction of brain tissue.
“Right now, we’re waiting for lab confirmation from the CDC,” Mohave County spokesman Darryle Purcell said.
CDC testing results are expected to be made available by Monday.
Naegleria is a free-living amoeba found in water and soil worldwide. ItÂ’s most commonly found in warm areas of shallow water that experiences little flow or current.
Only the species Naegleria fowleri can infect humans and even then, itÂ’s rare because infection occurs when the amoeba enters the nose, generally when a person is swimming underwater or diving. The infection cannot be spread person-to-person.
David Evans, AaronÂ’s father, said he and his sons were swimming at Windsor Beach 4 on Sept. 8. About a week later, Aaron showed signs of coming down with a cold or flu bug.
“Saturday (Sept. 15), he woke up with a headache and a little fever. He took a nap and it got a little better, but then at night it got worse,” Evans said. “When he woke up the next morning it was worse again, so we took him to the hospital. That was at 7:30 a.m. By 11 a.m., they were (air evacuating) him to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. They thought he had meningitis.”
Testing of AaronÂ’s spinal fluid after his death indicated the rare Naegleria infection.
Health officials said symptoms can take one to 14 days to occur. Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck.
Death occurs generally in three to seven days. Drug treatment has proven effective in laboratory testing but not in people.
Lake Havasu City spokesman Charlie Cassens said the county notified the city of the death Tuesday evening. Because the county health department stressed there is no public health risk at this time and the odds against infection are great, there isnÂ’t much the city can do.
“First, county health is the lead agency on something like this. But the city posting warning signs at the lake isn’t prudent without more information,” Cassens said. “The people should not be afraid of the lake. The chances of an encounter like this are astronomical.”
According to the CDC, only 23 people died in the United States of Naegleria infection from 1995 to 2004.
But David Evans said the city should do something to prevent other families from experiencing the pain he and his family is experiencing.
“The city can do things to treat the lake but the city won’t. It’s all about money,” he said. “If they have to, shut the lake down. Going out on the lake isn’t that important. And it’s better than another child dying.”
Evans is not the only one critical of the situation. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Lake Havasu City, is upset with the countyÂ’s handling of the information, waiting three days before letting the public know. And, he said as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, he still hadnÂ’t been officially informed of the health issue occurring in his district.
“Why was this information kept from the public? I have no idea why it was withheld,” Johnson said. “If the public is notified and explained it is not an epidemic, it can’t be spread person-to-person, it forestalls panic. More information for the public is always better.”
Purcell said information was shared when confirmation was made. “We don’t go to the public with assumptions,” he said.
Purcell, Johnson and Cassens all agreed AaronÂ’s death was a tragedy and expressed the countyÂ’s and cityÂ’s condolences to the family.
“There was no reason for him to die the way he did,” David Evans said. “He had his whole life ahead of him. Why not take me instead?”
Aaron Evans was a freshman at Lake Havasu High School and his death was announced Wednesday to students. School officials brought in Hospice of Havasu grief counselors to assist students in working through the situation.
“Parents, if you’ve been swimming and your child has a headache, take them to the hospital, don’t wait,” David Evans said. “I want to prevent other families from having to go through this.”
By DAVID BELL
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:34 PM MST
An amoeba is believed to be the cause of death of a 14-year-old Lake Havasu City boy this past weekend.
The Mohave County Department of Public Health is working with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether Naegleria fowleri in Lake Havasu killed Aaron Evans by causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation that leads to the destruction of brain tissue.
“Right now, we’re waiting for lab confirmation from the CDC,” Mohave County spokesman Darryle Purcell said.
CDC testing results are expected to be made available by Monday.
Naegleria is a free-living amoeba found in water and soil worldwide. ItÂ’s most commonly found in warm areas of shallow water that experiences little flow or current.
Only the species Naegleria fowleri can infect humans and even then, itÂ’s rare because infection occurs when the amoeba enters the nose, generally when a person is swimming underwater or diving. The infection cannot be spread person-to-person.
David Evans, AaronÂ’s father, said he and his sons were swimming at Windsor Beach 4 on Sept. 8. About a week later, Aaron showed signs of coming down with a cold or flu bug.
“Saturday (Sept. 15), he woke up with a headache and a little fever. He took a nap and it got a little better, but then at night it got worse,” Evans said. “When he woke up the next morning it was worse again, so we took him to the hospital. That was at 7:30 a.m. By 11 a.m., they were (air evacuating) him to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. They thought he had meningitis.”
Testing of AaronÂ’s spinal fluid after his death indicated the rare Naegleria infection.
Health officials said symptoms can take one to 14 days to occur. Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck.
Death occurs generally in three to seven days. Drug treatment has proven effective in laboratory testing but not in people.
Lake Havasu City spokesman Charlie Cassens said the county notified the city of the death Tuesday evening. Because the county health department stressed there is no public health risk at this time and the odds against infection are great, there isnÂ’t much the city can do.
“First, county health is the lead agency on something like this. But the city posting warning signs at the lake isn’t prudent without more information,” Cassens said. “The people should not be afraid of the lake. The chances of an encounter like this are astronomical.”
According to the CDC, only 23 people died in the United States of Naegleria infection from 1995 to 2004.
But David Evans said the city should do something to prevent other families from experiencing the pain he and his family is experiencing.
“The city can do things to treat the lake but the city won’t. It’s all about money,” he said. “If they have to, shut the lake down. Going out on the lake isn’t that important. And it’s better than another child dying.”
Evans is not the only one critical of the situation. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Lake Havasu City, is upset with the countyÂ’s handling of the information, waiting three days before letting the public know. And, he said as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, he still hadnÂ’t been officially informed of the health issue occurring in his district.
“Why was this information kept from the public? I have no idea why it was withheld,” Johnson said. “If the public is notified and explained it is not an epidemic, it can’t be spread person-to-person, it forestalls panic. More information for the public is always better.”
Purcell said information was shared when confirmation was made. “We don’t go to the public with assumptions,” he said.
Purcell, Johnson and Cassens all agreed AaronÂ’s death was a tragedy and expressed the countyÂ’s and cityÂ’s condolences to the family.
“There was no reason for him to die the way he did,” David Evans said. “He had his whole life ahead of him. Why not take me instead?”
Aaron Evans was a freshman at Lake Havasu High School and his death was announced Wednesday to students. School officials brought in Hospice of Havasu grief counselors to assist students in working through the situation.
“Parents, if you’ve been swimming and your child has a headache, take them to the hospital, don’t wait,” David Evans said. “I want to prevent other families from having to go through this.”