Naegleria fowleri in Louisiana Public Water Systems

The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)external icon in Louisiana and CDC confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri in two treated public drinking water systems in September-October 2013. A child staying in St. Bernard Parish died from infection with Naegleria fowleri, and the ameba was found in the plumbing system of the home and in the treated drinking water system ¹. The ameba was also found in the treated drinking water system in DeSoto Parish. In 2011, both parishes had a death associated with neti pot use ².

Timeline of Events

• March 24, 2014: Majority of Water Systems Comply with DHH Emergency Rule Requiring Higher Disinfectant Levels in Drinking Waterexternal icon
• February 11, 2014: Following Chlorine Burn, CDC Test Results Negative for Naegleria fowleri Ameba in St. Bernard Parish Water Systemexternal icon
• January 22, 2014: Following Chlorine Burn, CDC Test Results Negative for Naegleria fowleri Ameba in DeSoto Parish Water Systemexternal icon
• November 7, 2013: DHH Issues Emergency Rule Requiring Drinking Water Systems in Louisiana to Raise the Level of Disinfectant in their Water, Increase Monitoring by 25 Percentexternal icon
• October 9, 2013:DHH Strongly Recommends Certain Drinking Water Systems to Increase Chlorine Residual Levels and to Increase Monitoring by 25 Percentexternal icon
• October 8, 2013: CDC Testing Confirms Presence of Rare Ameba in One DeSoto Parish Water Systemexternal icon
• September 19, 2013: Myth vs. Fact: DHH Dispels Rumors about Naegleria fowleri Ameba, Drinking Water in Louisianaexternal icon
• September 13, 2013: CDC Confirms Rare Ameba in St. Bernard Water Systemexternal icon
• September 5, 2013: DHH Confirms Death of a Child Associated with Rare Amoeba Found in St. Bernard Parish Homeexternal icon

References

1. Cope JR, Ratard RC, Hill VR, Sokol T, Causey JJ, Yoder JS, Mirani G, Mull B, Mukerjee KA, Narayanan J, Doucet M, Qvarstrom Y, Poole CN, Akingbola OA, Ritter JM, Xiong Z, da Silva A, Roellig D, Van Dyke R, Stern H, Xiao L, Beach MJ. The first association of a primary amebic meningoencephalitis death with culturable Naegleria fowleri in tap water from a U.S. treated public drinking water system.external icon Clin Infect Dis. 2015;doi:10.1093/cid/civ017.
2. Yoder JS, Straif-Bourgeois S, Roy SL, Moore TA, Visvesvara GS, Ratard RC, Hill V, Wilson JD, Linscott AJ, Crager R, Kozak NA, Sriram R, Narayanan J, Mull B, Kahler AM, Schneeberger C, da Silva AJ, Beach MJ. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis deaths associated with sinus irrigation using contaminated tap water.external icon Clin Infect Dis. 2012;1-7.