A 71-year-old woman in Texas tragically died from a rare but deadly brain infection caused by a microscopic organism known as Naegleria fowleri. This fatal incident occurred after the woman performed a nasal rinse using unboiled tap water taken from her RV while staying at a campground. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in a report that the contaminated water, which was inadequately disinfected, introduced the amoeba to her body through her nasal passages. The organism then made its way to her brain, resulting in an infection that progressed rapidly and proved fatal despite medical intervention.

The woman, who was reportedly healthy prior to the infection, began experiencing seizures and other neurological symptoms just four days after using the nasal irrigation device. She was hospitalized, but her condition worsened, and she died eight days after symptoms first appeared. Lab tests conducted by the CDC on samples of her cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, the so-called "brain-eating amoeba" known to cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a condition that is almost always fatal.

The CDC’s report emphasizes the potential risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices and unsafe water sources. The report pointed out the necessity of using only sterile, distilled, or properly boiled and cooled water when performing nasal rinses. The case also brings to light the critical importance of maintaining clean and regulated water supplies, particularly in mobile and recreational environments like RVs, where water quality can vary and disinfection may not always meet standard requirements.

Following the woman’s death, the Texas Department of State Health Services carried out an epidemiologic investigation to determine the origin of the infection. Although the precise source of the amoeba could not be identified—whether from the RV’s potable water tank or from the local municipal water supply—the investigation confirmed that her exposure route was indeed tap water. The patient had used the water in her nasal rinse just four days before falling ill, and this timing aligned with the onset of symptoms.

During the course of the investigation, a total of 12 environmental samples were collected for analysis. These included water from the RV’s water heater, the patient’s nasal irrigation device, and other water sources within the RV. Surprisingly, none of these samples tested positive for viable Naegleria fowleri amoebae or even detectable DNA from the organism. Nonetheless, the presence of the amoeba in the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid was conclusive evidence that she had been infected by the deadly parasite, and the exposure was traced to water used from her RV.

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living, single-celled amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. Though infections are extremely rare, they are almost universally fatal. The amoeba enters the body through the nose, usually when contaminated water is forcibly pushed up the nasal cavity, as can happen during recreational water activities or when using nasal irrigation devices without sterile water. Once it enters the nasal passages, it migrates along the olfactory nerve to the brain, where it causes severe inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.

The CDC reiterated that while cases of Naegleria fowleri infection are uncommon, they highlight serious public health risks, particularly when safe water practices are not followed. The agency advises against using tap water for nasal rinsing unless it has been previously boiled and cooled, distilled, or passed through a filter certified to remove harmful microorganisms. Even seemingly safe environments like RVs can harbor water that is not adequately disinfected, especially if the water tanks are not regularly cleaned or monitored for microbial contamination.

This case underscores the critical importance of public education around the risks of waterborne pathogens and the correct methods for using nasal irrigation devices. It also calls attention to the responsibility of municipalities and private water suppliers to ensure water meets health and safety standards. Although tragic, the death of this Texas woman serves as a sobering reminder that even rare pathogens can have devastating consequences when proper precautions are not taken.