Rare but very deadly amoeba infection hard to prevent...
In the hot summer months when the amoeba flourishes, he said, doctors need to learn to look for the symptoms of an amoeba-related illness.
"Physicians have to consider it. The public needs to consider it," Sherin said. "If you have a flu-like illness or a bad headache following swimming in a freshwater body and the temperature is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, be aware of this."
However, only a handful of doctors have seen a patient with the rare amoeba.
Until this summer there were only 24 known cases of the virus in the U.S. since 1989, according to the CDC.
Health officials cannot explain the spike in cases this summer, except that weather plays a factor.
"Because it's been such a hot summer, that has contributed to warmer water temperatures and lower water levels and that makes an ideal environment for the amoeba," said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine of the Arizona Department of Health, which is investigating a death last month there tied to the amoeba.
Another question health officials have is why the amoeba seems to appear more often in young males. All six victims this summer were male, ages 10 to 22 years old. One theory, the CDC says, is that young males might be more likely to engage in water sports such as water skiing or wakeboarding. Those can lead to greater exposure to the amoeba.
But other than wearing nose plugs while swimming or staying out of freshwater above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, there is little people can do to prevent exposure to the amoeba.
Rare but deadly amoeba infection hard to prevent - CNN.com
Division of Parasitic Diseases - Naegleria Infection Fact Sheet
