A “Do-Not-Use” water advisory was reportedly sent to thousands of customers late Friday night in Lake Jackson, Texas due to concerns about the presence of a brain-eating amoeba in the water supply, according to ABC 13.
The amoeba, known as naegleria fowleri, prompted the advisory Friday, which initially impacted customers of the Brazosport Water Authority. TCEQ later stated that the Brazosport’s water was safe.
Texas Commission of Environmental Quality took to Twitter on Saturday, tweeting: “*UPDATE* Do Not Use Water Advisory LIFTED for most Brazosport Water Authority users Lake Jackson residents are still urged to heed DO NOT USE Water Advisory.”
The Twitter continued: “The following areas are NO LONGER under a Do Not Use Water Advisory: Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute, Rosenberg, Dow Chemical, TDCJ Clemens and TDCJ Wayne Scott.”
The advisory continued for Lake Jackson residents and means they should not use water for anything other than flushing toilets, including drinking, bathing, or cooking.
The CDC came out by saying that the amoeba typically affects people when the contaminated water enters the body through the nostrils.
ABC 13 reported that the amoeba can travel to the brain and cause a condition known as amebic meningoencephalitis—a rare but highly lethal disease, according to health experts.
The CDC said that people are unable to get infected from swallowing water contaminated with the amoeba. Symptoms of the illness include headaches, vomiting, fever, and disorientation.
The amoeba was suspected in the local water supply after six-year-old Josiah McIntyre died on Sept. 8, Lake Jackson City Manager Modesto Mundo said.
ABC 13 reported:
Three water samples out of 11 taken tested positive for genetic material related to naegleria fowleri, including a test of a water hose bib at McIntyre’s home.
The other two positive tests were in samples taken from the civic center fountain and a fire hydrant, according to Mundo.
McIntyre played at the civic center splash pad in late August before becoming ill, Mundo said.
The attraction was closed as a precaution on Sept. 8 after city officials were notified of his death.
While the initial advisory targeted the Brazosport Water Authority’s supply, no other cities have reported any issues, BWA board president Juan Longoria said to The Facts.
Lake Jackson is reported to draw half its water supply from wells and the other half from the Brazosport Water Authority, according to Mundo.
ABC 13 continued:
As word spread about the advisory, people flocked to supermarkets to buy bottled water. Some customers were seen leaving stores with carts full of large quantities of bottled water.
At an emergency meeting of the Lake Jackson City Council Saturday morning, city leaders discussed the massive response that includes state resources and the CDC. Deliveries of bottled water were being coordinated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Mundo said.
The Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice sent water tanker trucks to both prison facilities impacted to provide water for showers at two prison facilities. 18-wheelers loaded with pallets of bottled water were also ordered for the units.
There’s no word on how long the advisory will be in effect.
The CDC reports:
Naegleria fowleri (commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba” or “brain-eating ameba”), is a free-living microscopic amoeba, (single-celled living organism). It can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater (e.g. lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and soil. Naegleria fowleri usually infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM, which is usually fatal. Infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater places, like lakes and rivers. In very rare instances, Naegleria infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water) enters the nose. You cannot get infected from swallowing water contaminated with Naegleria.