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Brain-eating amoeba, flesh-eating bacteria: What NC swimmers should know this Labor Day
WRAL • • health
Key Points:
- Over 120,000 travelers are expected at Raleigh-Durham International Airport this holiday weekend, with many North Carolinians visiting lakes and coastal areas, raising concerns about waterborne infections.
- A North Carolina teen recently died from Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly “brain-eating amoeba” found in warm freshwater, while two deaths from Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous bacteria in coastal waters, have also been reported this year.
- Naegleria fowleri infection occurs when contaminated freshwater enters the nose, causing a fatal brain infection in 97% of cases, but exposure is common and disease is rare; prevention includes avoiding submerging the head or using nose clips.
- Vibrio vulnificus infections can result from open wounds exposed to saltwater or from eating raw or undercooked seafood, with severe cases causing life-threatening bloodstream infections; precautions include cooking seafood thoroughly and protecting wounds from water exposure.
- Experts emphasize that while both infections are rare, awareness and preventive measures, such as avoiding nasal water entry in freshwater and proper seafood handling, can significantly reduce risks during summer recreational activities.
