A brain-eating amoeba has been detected in the Louisiana water system. It is the third time since 2015 that the potentially deadly organism has been found in the state
The amoeba can cause brain swelling and seizures according to the CDC. The Terrebonne Consolidated Waterworks District issued the notification Sunday and has temporarily switched to a different disinfectant to kill the organism.
Despite the Louisiana heat, residents are ignoring their swimming pools and nearby bayous. They’re terrified of something they can’t see but that officials warn is present.
"It kinda freaks me out because this is my home, I can’t do what I usually do," said Lindsey Dupre, WWL-TV reports. "I want to know I’m secure rather than freak out over an amoeba."
This marks the third time the amoeba has been detected in the water since 2015. Last June, Terrebonne Parish’s water system tested positive for the amoeba in Isle de Jean Charles, where it had also been found three years ago. It impacts all fresh water sources ranging from drinking water to pool water to water used for showers.
"Normally we see this amoeba in surface water when people go swimming and they get it way up in their sinuses and they’ll get an infection," said Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana Department of Health’s medical director. "They’ll start getting symptoms that are similar to meningitis."
Even brain-eating Amoebas have standards.