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Topics: Health
Callum Jones
Experts have issued a warning after a woman tragically lost her life after rinsing her sinuses with infected water.
The unidentified individual, who was 71 years old, died after a single-celled brain-eating organism known as amoeba entered her body.
While you should always listen to advice from the local water supplier regarding drinking tap water in your area, you do risk exposing yourself to certain infections by consuming it.
The water the woman was exposed to contains amoeba, and if that gets into a person's nose, it can sometimes travel to the brain and cause a fatal infection.
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Of course, this is certainly rare, but as this woman's story shows, it's definitely not impossible.
While Texas Department of State Health Services say the tap water is safe to consume in the area, the Daily Mail reports the woman rinsed her sinuses in water from an RV's water system at a campground.
The woman was infected by Naegleria fowleri, typically found in warm water lakes and rivers, and while rare, kills almost 97 percent of people that contract it.
Showing just how rare the condition, the CDC reports 157 cases of the condition in the US between 1962 and 2022.
While rare, experts say that the case 'reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards', as per the Daily Mail.
Ingesting this infected water through the mouth while not advised, usually means you're alright, because stomach acid is strong enough to kill the amoeba.
To avoid potential exposure through the noise though, experts recommend boiling water before rinsing sinuses or using distilled water instead.
The New York Post reports that parents/guardians should supervise children playing with sprinklers, while you should probably avoid going underwater in a bath or freshwater.
Meanwhile, if you've been on vacation and not been at your digs for a few days, it's recommended you run shower or sink water for several minutes to flush out stagnant water.
It comes just weeks after a man died suddenly after 'drinking too much water' following a procedure in hospital.
Sean O’Donnell, 59, died after his brain swelled from too much water and this ultimately led to seizures, cardiac arrest and his eventual death the same day that he left the hospital for a routine procedure.
St Vincent’s hospital previously admitted a breach of duty of care and his family have been paid €35,000 ($38,144) for mental distress, the Irish Independent reports.