Rose Cottage Ltd

I got a rather excited call from my Mom last week regarding amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Well, she actually started by telling me to make sure I don’t fall into my lake and breathe any water through my nose. I was a bit surprised by this warning since, although I’ve pushed my luck more than once, I have yet to fall from the boat in an unplanned manner.

But once I did some research I saw why she was concerned:

CDC to test Virginia waterways for deadly amoeba.

Apparently this amoeba is around all the time but its activity is enhanced by warm, stagnant lake and pond water. Due to the drought in many areas this year, conditions must be prime, and several people have died.

If water carrying the amoeba enters the body through the nose, the organism travels to the brain where it attaches itself and begins to destroy brain tissue. This is scary stuff by this fact alone. Add to it that anyone contracting this amoeba has only a 3% chance to survive it and the news for anyone infected is not good.

After learning this, I hope people will use the appropriate caution, but not panic.

Read more about amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Knowledge is power only if it doesn’t become a paralyzing factor.