Do you know about this brain eating amoeba?

Question

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070928/health/health_killer_amoeba

I want you all to know about this very terrible microscopic enemy so that you have the chance of protecting your children and grandchildren.

It is in the States right now (as well as Australia, and other warm countries) and it is killing people.

The article says that all it would take to prevent infection is wearing of nose clips in "algae bloom" water.

This CREATURE eats brain tissue! A science fiction fantasy, you say? Not according to CDC.

I am still crying for the family of the boy who died. A 14 year old child murdered by a microscopic creature for wanting to splash around for his birthday?

And there is no cure...once you are infected, you are as good as dead. Make sure YOUR family doesn't join this one in their grief. Keep your young ones safe.

Wickwire: Yes, really something. But at least he LIVED!

Answer 1

I have read about that & agree it is horrid.
With all the research I have been doing on Global Warming, I have found (along with others more educated then I & working in the field) that there are a lot of new micro critters popping up all over the globe & most are killers.
In the right conditions, things that have been dormant for many years can revive.
Not saying Global warming has anything to do with the cases you mentioned but it does give one pause for thought.

Answer 2

Brain eating amoeba?That'll be something decent in a joke book.Don't worry about it so much,your nose is filled with hairs(yes,hairs!)that will filter dust,germs and your mucus helps too.The only crap that you should fear of is parasites.If you accidently swallow or breathe in a parasite egg..well depending on what kind of parasite it is,the effects ain't pretty.You spend years without knowing your a host to a parasite and a parasite usually infest the digestive system though in rarer but also severe cases,they can be in your brain but I seriously doubt there's a parasite there too.Again...Amoeba doesn't eat your brain...

Answer 3

Yes, read about it last week. It;'s actually a very old microscopic amoeba...been around for eons...as the article stated, taking precautions when swimming in 'standing water' is recommended..........This story, however, was so sad that the child had to succumb in that way...simply horrible.

Me and mine? - we'll stick to oceans

Answer 4

I saw this on the news too ! How horrible for the family. We are hearing about new things every year that can kill. Where do these things come from . It's hard enough just worrying about kids getting to and from school safely .

Answer 5

Yes I read about it in yesterdays(Sunday's) paper.
It's an amoeba that get up in your nose when swimming and gets to your brain, and starts eating away at it. There is no cure. Only a nose guard will keep it out. Swim safe!!!!

Answer 6

Scary. I never hear anything good coming from lakes, pools or ponds. Our parents took us to moving creeks when we were kids. That's where I'll take my son. This reminds me of Brady Barr when asked what was the worst thing he caught from his National Geographic adventures, it was parasites that ended up in his brain. They'd been there for years, he kept getting headaches. He had to get chemotherapy to kill the buggers. Isn't that something?

Answer 7

That unfortunate boy died in my hometown as a result of swimming in the warm wares of the lake which our city is named after. Very Sad!!!!

The gestation period was only a few days.

Answer 8

This may be an ancient life form but our water quality or lack of it isn't helping keep it and the other harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi in check...rather it seems to be burgeoning. Scary.

Answer 9

Yes, I read about it in Scientific American about 20 or 30 years ago. It seems it already struck George Bush.

Answer 10

Thank you and I have been sick for 3 weeks and I sure hope it is just an allergy but it does give one thought about so many things in the air.