Brain-eating amoeba detected in Louisiana parish’s water system

State health regulators confirm brain-eating amoeba has been found in a water system serving about 97,000 people in the Houma area in Terrebonne Parish. It will also conduct a similar burn in the Houma Water system as a precaution.

It has been confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals that the Naegleria fowleri amoeba is present in the Schriever Water System in Montegut.

The DHH regularly carries out sampling for the Naegleria fowleri amoeba in public systems for drinking water.

He says officials are taking steps to increase the chlorine level in the system to conduct a chlorine burn. Consolidated Waterworks District #1 started a 60-day chlorine burn Monday afternoon to make sure any amoeba left in the system is killed. The affected system did not meet the required chloramine disinfectant levels.

In the face of presence of the amoeba, officials said residents can use the water for drinking; however, people should keep it away from their noses.

So far, DHH has tested a total of 21 systems for the ameba. In July, each Saint Bernard and Ascension Parishes discovered evident of the amoeba. At the moment, both of these regions are undergoing the chlorination procedure and hopefully, this entire ordeal will come to an end after the 60 days.

Naegleria fowleri was found at the last hydrant on Island Road in Pointe-aux-Chenes, Parish President Michel Claudet said today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an individual infected by the brain-eating amoeba will experience symptoms bacterial meningitis during its initial stage.

Parents are being advised not to allow children to play unsupervised in tubs or pools.

– Do keep small hard plastic/blow-up pools clean by emptying, scrubbing and allowing them to dry after each use.

Fatalities have only occurred when the water gets into the upper reaches of a person’s nose, and the two fatalities in Louisiana in 2011 involved people who used tap water in neti pot treatments for sinus problems.

If you need to top off the water in your swimming pool with tap water, place the hose directly into the skimmer box and ensure that the filter is running.