With temperatures ramping up this week,
Western Australians are being reminded about the risk of amoebic meningitis – a rare but deadly infection
linked to warm, fresh water sources.
Amoebic meningitis is caused by the
Naegleria fowleri amoeba. Found in the brain causing inflammation
and destruction of brain tissue.
WA Health’s Managing Scientist of
Water, Nathan Cocks, said Naegleria fowleri amoeba thrived in water temperatures between 28˚C and
40˚C.
“In this hot weather, people
should assume that any warm fresh water could contain this potentially deadly amoeba,” he said.
“Be aware of the risk and make
sure the water you or your children are playing in is properly treated and maintained.”
In addition to pools and spas, this
includes water from garden hoses or sprinklers and wading pools. On regional properties, rivers, dams and lakes
are also a risk.
Mr Cocks said amoebic meningitis could
affect people of any age, but children and young adults were usually more susceptible to the infection due to
their increased recreational water use and activities.
“Although there has not been a
case of amoebic meningitis in Western Australia since the 1980s, people should not be complacent about this
infection,” he said.
“The risk of contracting this
infection is always real and precautions must be taken.
“Even with treatment, amoebic
meningitis is usually fatal, so prevention is vital.”
Pool and spa owners are advised to
closely monitor and check
chlorine levels are within a safe range (external site)
and water in wading pools is changed after each use.
Simple precautions at
home:
- never allow water to go up your nose or a child's nose and do not sniff water into
your nose when bathing, showering or washing your face
- run all water from any hose or sprinkler for a few minutes until cool water flows
through the hose before letting any child play with water from a hose or sprinkler
- always supervise children playing with hoses or sprinklers and teach them not to
squirt water up their noses
- if the water in a hose or sprinkler remains warm even after flushing for a few
minutes, do not let children play with it
- disinfect your swimming pool water with chlorine – chlorine is the most
effective way to continually disinfect water as it kills all stages of the amoeba
- keep wading pools clean by emptying, scrubbing and allowing them to dry in the sun
after each use
- swim in and play with safe (disinfected) water only
- let bath and shower taps run for a few minutes to flush out the pipes
- do not use tap water for nasal irrigation (external site) unless
it has been further treated.
In the
environment:
- stay out of dirty waterholes or dams
- never jump or dive into water to prevent water going up your nose – walk or
lower yourself in
- swim in sea water or properly chlorinated pools rather than fresh water
- do not dig or stir up sediment
Visit the HealthyWA
website for more
information on amoebic meningitis (external site).
ENDS
Media contact: 9222 4333
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