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PLEASE don't believe everything you read on social media! That's especially good advice when it comes to Charlotte County's brain eating amoeba death story. Instead go by and believe what our local Dept. Of Health is saying:
DOH-Charlotte released an updated statement Thursday....
Health officials said the amoeba can only be contracted when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Drinking tap water will not cause infection.
Residents are advised to take the following precautions:
• When making sinus rinse solutions, use only distilled or sterile water. Tap water should be boiled for at least one minute and cooled before sinus rinsing.
• Do not allow water to go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming in small hard plastic/blow-up pools.
• Do not jump into or put your head under bathing water (bathtubs, small hard plastic/blowup pools) — walk or lower yourself in.
• Do not allow children to play unsupervised with hoses or sprinklers, as they may accidentally squirt water up their nose. Avoid slip-n-slides or other activities where it is difficult to prevent water going up the nose.
• Keep small hard plastic or blow-up pools clean by emptying, scrubbing, and allowing them to dry after each use.
• Keep your swimming pool adequately disinfected before and during use.
The DOH is working with health care facilities to monitor any indications of additional infections.
If you experience any of these symptoms after swimming in warm lakes or rivers, or after a nasal water exposure such as a sinus rinse, seek medical assistance immediately:
• headache
• fever
• nausea
• disorientation
• vomiting
• stiff neck
• seizures
• loss of balance
• hallucinations