SHOCKING! US Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Using Tap Water For Nasal Rinsing

Texas: A 71-year-old woman from Texas has passed away after developing a rare but lethal brain infection connected to a nasal irrigation device, as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The woman, once healthy, experienced serious neurological symptoms days after flushing her sinuses with water from an RV's tank at a Texas campground. The unboiled or unsterilised water was probably infected with Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the brain-eating amoeba, according to the People.

Deadly case of “brain-eating ameba” infection linked to nasal rinsing with RV tap water. Only use distilled or sterile water, or boiled and cooled tap water, for nasal rinsing. Read more: https://t.co/oIj92SWOEM pic.twitter.com/D0pmB1CfAw

— MMWR (@CDCMMWR) June 3, 2025

The woman started exhibiting symptoms like fever, headache, and confusion within four days of using the nasal rinse, as reported by the CDC. Even with treatment for primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), the infection advanced swiftly. She experienced seizures and passed away eight days after the initial symptoms emerged.

PAM is a very uncommon yet almost invariably deadly infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a tiny amoeba that usually enters the body through the nose when individuals swim or bathe in warm freshwater. It can also infect people who utilise tap or untreated water for nasal cleansing.

While the amoeba was not directly located in the RV's water system, the CDC indicated that the water was "poorly disinfected." This case acts as a caution regarding the necessity of utilizing only sterile, distilled, or adequately boiled and cooled water for nasal irrigation.

Between 1962 and 2023, the CDC has recorded only 164 PAM infections in the US. Just four individuals have endured. Health authorities recommend that individuals refrain from using untreated tap water for sinus rinses and exercise caution while swimming in warm freshwater lakes or hot springs, as these environments are conducive to the amoeba's survival.