Not So Fast
09-21-2007, 10:04 AM
Amoeba suspected in 7 deaths
County health director says risk less with cooler temperatures
By DAVID BELL
Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:12 PM MST
The amoeba suspected as the cause of death of a 14-year-old Lake Havasu City boy Monday is also believed to have caused the death of six others this past summer Â…#8221; three in Florida, two in Texas and another in Arizona at Lake Pleasant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating whether Naegleria fowleri was involved in the deaths of all seven people this year.
“The trend is up, there’s an increased number of cases, but it’s not unprecedented. In the 1990s, we had some years with as many as six cases and then a few years with none,” said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Michael Beach.
There were 23 reported deaths resulting from Naegleria infection from 1995 to 2004.
Beach said the amoeba thrives in heat-wave conditions. When the air is hotter, the surface water warms. That spurs bacteria growth, bacteria that the amoeba feeds upon.
On Monday, Aaron Evans, 14, of Lake Havasu City, died of what is believed to be primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. The disease is cause by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
CDC test results in EvansÂ’ death are expected by Monday.
The Florida deaths of boys age 10, 11 and 14 years old occurred in the Orlando area. Exposure occurred in June and August.
In Texas, a 22-year-old died in September and a 12-year-old boy died in August. Both deaths are connected to Lake LBJ in Lubbock.
The other Arizona death occurred in early August. A 6-year-old Buckeye boy died after an Aug. 13 visit to Lake Pleasant.
“We do tend to see a trend that there are more boys involved,” Beach said. “We believe it is behaviorally oriented. (Boys) are a little more active and may be jumping into things more and that sort of thing.”
Patty Mead, Mohave County Department of Public Health director, said it is still safe for families to swim in Lake Havasu.
“There is always an inherent risk of swimming in any natural body of water, from this amoeba or any amoeba, when water is not treated or chlorinated,” Mead said. “When temperatures are high, avoid jumping in water or engaging in sports that are forceful. And make sure if doing those activities, hold your nose or use nose clips.”
Health Department officials in Orange County, Fla., and Lubbock County, Texas, posted signs at area lakes warning of the amoeba and giving tips on how to avoid infection. Lake Havasu City officials said Wednesday that there were no plans to post similar signs around Lake Havasu. However, Mead said her office is in talks with the city to determine whether signs are appropriate.
“Cooler temperatures are here and risk decreases with cooler temperatures,” Mead said.
Dan Cunning, president and CEO of the Lake Havasu Convention and Visitors Bureau, said his office is keeping a close watch on the test results and actions of health department and city officials.
“We thought maybe after the story ran our phones would be lit up, but there’s been none at all,” Cunning said.
CVB officials have been vigilant when it comes to perception of lake health following the closing of a few beaches for elevated bacteria counts in 1994. Some southern California media outlets reported the lake as “closed” for health reasons, sending tourism and the Lake Havasu City economy into a tailspin that took years from which to recover.
“We’re concerned about everything from quagga muscle to this to heat stroke. We want people to have a fun, safe time in Havasu,” Cunning said. “From outside appearance, it does not appear we have a major crisis. But like everyone, we’re waiting for more information.”
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.
Health officials said symptoms could 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.
Evans may have become infected Sept. 8 while swimming at Windsor Beach 4. About one week later, Aaron exhibited signs he was coming down with a cold or flu bug. He died Sept. 17 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
A memorial service for Evans will be held Sunday at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home at 10 a.m. followed by burial at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens.
You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.
County health director says risk less with cooler temperatures
By DAVID BELL
Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:12 PM MST
The amoeba suspected as the cause of death of a 14-year-old Lake Havasu City boy Monday is also believed to have caused the death of six others this past summer Â…#8221; three in Florida, two in Texas and another in Arizona at Lake Pleasant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating whether Naegleria fowleri was involved in the deaths of all seven people this year.
“The trend is up, there’s an increased number of cases, but it’s not unprecedented. In the 1990s, we had some years with as many as six cases and then a few years with none,” said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Michael Beach.
There were 23 reported deaths resulting from Naegleria infection from 1995 to 2004.
Beach said the amoeba thrives in heat-wave conditions. When the air is hotter, the surface water warms. That spurs bacteria growth, bacteria that the amoeba feeds upon.
On Monday, Aaron Evans, 14, of Lake Havasu City, died of what is believed to be primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. The disease is cause by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
CDC test results in EvansÂ’ death are expected by Monday.
The Florida deaths of boys age 10, 11 and 14 years old occurred in the Orlando area. Exposure occurred in June and August.
In Texas, a 22-year-old died in September and a 12-year-old boy died in August. Both deaths are connected to Lake LBJ in Lubbock.
The other Arizona death occurred in early August. A 6-year-old Buckeye boy died after an Aug. 13 visit to Lake Pleasant.
“We do tend to see a trend that there are more boys involved,” Beach said. “We believe it is behaviorally oriented. (Boys) are a little more active and may be jumping into things more and that sort of thing.”
Patty Mead, Mohave County Department of Public Health director, said it is still safe for families to swim in Lake Havasu.
“There is always an inherent risk of swimming in any natural body of water, from this amoeba or any amoeba, when water is not treated or chlorinated,” Mead said. “When temperatures are high, avoid jumping in water or engaging in sports that are forceful. And make sure if doing those activities, hold your nose or use nose clips.”
Health Department officials in Orange County, Fla., and Lubbock County, Texas, posted signs at area lakes warning of the amoeba and giving tips on how to avoid infection. Lake Havasu City officials said Wednesday that there were no plans to post similar signs around Lake Havasu. However, Mead said her office is in talks with the city to determine whether signs are appropriate.
“Cooler temperatures are here and risk decreases with cooler temperatures,” Mead said.
Dan Cunning, president and CEO of the Lake Havasu Convention and Visitors Bureau, said his office is keeping a close watch on the test results and actions of health department and city officials.
“We thought maybe after the story ran our phones would be lit up, but there’s been none at all,” Cunning said.
CVB officials have been vigilant when it comes to perception of lake health following the closing of a few beaches for elevated bacteria counts in 1994. Some southern California media outlets reported the lake as “closed” for health reasons, sending tourism and the Lake Havasu City economy into a tailspin that took years from which to recover.
“We’re concerned about everything from quagga muscle to this to heat stroke. We want people to have a fun, safe time in Havasu,” Cunning said. “From outside appearance, it does not appear we have a major crisis. But like everyone, we’re waiting for more information.”
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.
Health officials said symptoms could 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.
Evans may have become infected Sept. 8 while swimming at Windsor Beach 4. About one week later, Aaron exhibited signs he was coming down with a cold or flu bug. He died Sept. 17 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
A memorial service for Evans will be held Sunday at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home at 10 a.m. followed by burial at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens.
You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.