Rare “Brain-Eating” Amoeba Infection Highlights Nasal Rinse Safety

A 71-year-old woman in Texas became severely ill and later died after using tap water to clean her sinuses, an event that underscores the importance of proper water safety for nasal irrigation devices. Doctors later discovered that she had been infected with a very rare microorganism known as Naegleria fowleri — commonly referred to in media as a “brain-eating amoeba.” This amoeba is a naturally occurring, single-celled organism found in warm fresh water and occasionally in poorly treated or untreated water systems, but it cannot cause infection through swallowing water; it becomes dangerous only when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. 

Naegleria fowleri lives in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and sometimes in soil or untreated public water systems. In rare cases, it may also be present in tap water if the water distribution system is contaminated or inadequately treated. Once the amoeba enters through the nasal passages, it can travel up the olfactory nerve into the brain, causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) — a rapidly progressing and almost always fatal brain infection. 

According to health authorities including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections with Naegleria fowleri are extremely rare. In the United States, fewer than 10 cases are typically reported each year, despite millions of people swimming in freshwater or using nasal irrigation devices. However, when these infections do occur, they are highly serious and often deadly. Most reported cases have been associated with recreational water exposure in warm climates, as well as with the use of contaminated water during nasal rinsing with devices such as neti pots or sinus rinse bottles. 

In the recent Texas case, the woman reportedly used tap water drawn from an RV’s water supply system while at a campground to fill a nasal irrigation device. Within four days of using the untreated water, she developed severe symptoms including fever, headache, confusion, and altered mental status — classic early indicators of a serious infection. Despite medical intervention, her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she developed seizures before dying about eight days after symptom onset. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid. 

Health officials emphasize that such infections are not caused by drinking tap water. The amoeba cannot infect the body through the digestive tract because the acidic environment of the stomach neutralizes it. The real risk arises only when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nasal passages, where it can reach the brain.

Because of these rare but serious occurrences, health experts strongly advise that only safe types of water be used for nasal or sinus cleaning. The CDC recommends using distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water for nasal irrigation. Tap water should never be used unless it has been boiled for at least one minute (or three minutes at higher elevations) and allowed to cool first. Water that has merely passed through consumer filters (like pitcher filters) is not sufficient to reliably remove the amoeba. 

In addition to safe water practices for nasal rinsing, the CDC and public health organizations recommend precautions for freshwater recreational activities, such as keeping the head above water in lakes or hot springs, using nose clips, and avoiding stirring up sediment where the amoeba may reside. These steps help reduce the already low risk of infection during warm weather outdoor activities. 

The key takeaway from this tragic case is awareness rather than alarm. Millions of people safely use nasal rinse systems every year, and most freshwater activities pose little risk when proper precautions are followed. Simple measures — like using safe water and following manufacturer instructions for irrigation devices — can significantly reduce the chance of rare but severe infections.

This information is shared for awareness and precaution only, not to promote fear, discrimination, or stigma toward any individual or community. The focus is on spreading correct, science-based guidance to help people make informed decisions about their health.

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Trusted Sources (CDC and Public Health):

• CDC — How to Safely Rinse Sinuses: Explains the risks of using tap water for nasal rinsing and safe practices. 

• CDC — How to Prevent Naegleria fowleri Infection: Details Naegleria transmission and prevention. 

• CDC Safe Ritual Nasal Rinsing Fact Sheet: Outlines safe water sources and filtration recommendations. 

• CDC Naegleria and Public Water Systems: Offers guidance for water safety and avoiding contaminated water entering the nose. 

• Recent case report coverage (People.com): Reports on the Texas case and CDC recommendations.