Health officials in Louisiana issued a public warning on Thursday, urging residents to avoid using tap water for sinus rinses and contact lens care following a fatal Acanthamoeba infection earlier this year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Infections Reported in the State
The death is one of 10 infections reported across the state since 2024. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol noted the severity of the threat in a news release, stating that while these infections are rare, they can have devastating consequences.
The recent death marks one of two serious infections identified this year, both diagnosed in patients with weakened immune systems. Both individuals reported using tap water in nasal irrigation systems. However, health officials noted that tap water has not been definitively established as the direct source of the microbe in those specific cases.
Vision Loss and the Threat to Contact Lens Wearers
The remaining eight cases involved Acanthamoeba keratitis, an eye infection capable of causing permanent vision loss. Seven of those eight patients wore contact lenses, and five ultimately lost their sight permanently.
Where the Resilient Microbe Thrives
Beyond tap water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the resilient microbe also thrives in garden and agricultural soil, freshwater bodies, swimming pools, and indoor systems such as heating and air conditioning units, and humidifiers.
A 2023 study cited in a CDC report revealed that non-keratitis Acanthamoeba infections are rare in the United States, occurring fewer than 12 times a year. Yet, those rare systemic cases carry an 82% fatality rate.
Distinguishing the Risks From Brain-Eating Amoebas
Health authorities draw a sharp distinction between Acanthamoeba and Naegleria fowleri, the organism commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, which typically lurks in warm freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and canals.
In August, Lillian Smart, an 8-year-old from Ruston, died from a Naegleria infection contracted while swimming in a North Louisiana lake. At least five deaths in the state have been linked to Naegleria since 2011.
Essential Safety Guidance for Residents
To mitigate the risk of Acanthamoeba, the Louisiana Department of Health advises residents to use distilled, sanitary, or previously boiled water for neti pots, sinus rinses, and continuous positive airway pressure machines.
Tap water should never be used to clean or store contact lenses, and lenses must be removed before swimming, showering, or entering a hot tub. Officials emphasized that simply drinking tap water poses no risk for contracting the infection.
