Louisiana residents urged to take tap water precautions after dangerous amoeba infections reported

Residents successful Louisiana are reminded of the dangers of utilizing pat h2o erstwhile utilizing nasal rinsing devices and interaction lenses aft 10 cases of uncommon Acanthamoeba infections were identified since 2024. 

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issued the alert, telling residents that Acanthamoeba tin origin oculus infections oregon much rarely, sinus, tegument oregon encephalon infections, depending connected however it enters the body. 

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Acanthamoeba is simply a microscopic organism often recovered successful soil, particulate and water, including pat water.

DELMAR, NY - JANUARY 9: Filtered pat h2o flows from Bethlehem nonmigratory Jessica Dillon's room faucet connected Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, successful Delmar, N.Y. 

(Will Waldron/Albany Times Union / Getty Images)

Exposure to this amoeba is common, but corruption from it is rare, the section of Health said. 

Of the 10 cases identified successful Louisiana since 2024, 8 of them were Acanthamoeba keratitis. 

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an oculus corruption that tin origin imperishable imaginativeness nonaccomplishment successful different steadfast people. 

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Acanthamoeba keratitis tin origin oculus pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing oregon the sensation that thing is successful the eye, LDH said. "Contact lens wearers experiencing these symptoms should promptly question attraction from an oculus attraction professional."

Obtained from an oculus specimen taken from a diligent successful Thailand, who had contracted an corruption known arsenic Acanthamoeba keratitis.

(CDC/IMAGE POINT FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group  / Getty Images)

LDH said 7 of the cases occurred successful interaction lens wearers and 5 of the 8 cases led to imperishable nonaccomplishment of vision. 

Two superior cases were identified successful Louisiana successful 2026. 

One idiosyncratic contracted the corruption successful their sinuses and the different contracted it successful their encephalon and died. 

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Both radical with superior infections reported having utilized nasal irrigation systems with pat water. 

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: A laboratory and schoolroom abstraction astatine the Baylor College of Medicine's Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower  in Houston connected Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. 

(Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle  / Getty Images)

LDH said pat h2o couldn't beryllium established arsenic the root of the infections, but inactive warns residents of the dangers of utilizing pat h2o successful situations similar these. 

Drinking pat h2o volition not enactment radical astatine hazard of contracting Acanthamoeba, but utilizing it for sinus oregon nasal rinses oregon to cleanable oregon store interaction lenses is precise dangerous. 

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Acanthamoeba is simply a microscopic, free-living amoeba, oregon amoeba (single-celled surviving organism), that tin origin uncommon but superior eye, skin, and cardinal tense strategy infections. The amoeba is recovered worldwide successful the situation successful h2o and soil.  via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

"Although these infections are rare, they tin person devastating consequences," said Louisiana authorities epidemiologist Theresa Sokol. "Using the close h2o for nasal rinsing, pursuing due interaction lens hygiene, and taking precautions with aesculapian devices tin assistance trim the risk. These steps are particularly important for radical with weakened immune systems."

Symptoms alteration depending connected the corruption and tin beryllium hard to recognize. People with weakened immune systems who make symptoms specified arsenic seizures, confusion, headaches, weakness, fevers oregon sinus, visual, tegument oregon different disturbances should question aesculapian attraction arsenic soon arsenic imaginable and archer their wellness attraction supplier astir immoderate caller nasal rinsing oregon different imaginable h2o exposures, LDH said.

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LDH recommends pursuing these precautions: 

• For nasal rinsing: Always usage distilled, sterile, oregon antecedently boiled and cooled h2o successful neti pots, compression bottles, and different nasal irrigation devices. Do not usage untreated pat h2o for usage oregon for cleaning.
• For interaction lenses: Never usage pat h2o to cleanable oregon store interaction lenses. Use recommended interaction lens solutions, travel due cleaning and retention instructions, and region lenses earlier swimming, showering, oregon utilizing a blistery tub.
• For aesculapian devices: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for h2o use, cleaning, and attraction of devices specified arsenic continuous affirmative airway unit (CPAP) machines.
• For radical with weakened immune systems: Talk with a wellness attraction supplier astir precautions erstwhile utilizing nasal irrigation devices and different instrumentality that whitethorn impact h2o exposure.

LDH issued a wellness advisory to Louisiana wellness attraction providers to summation consciousness of these infections, promote aboriginal designation and reenforce prevention recommendations.

For further accusation astir Acanthamoeba infections and prevention, sojourn the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acanthamoeba infections website.