Rare Brain-eating Amoeba Found In Water At Several Western National Parks – Including Lake Mead And Yellowstone

A uncommon “brain-eating amoeba” has been recovered successful recreational waters astatine respective occidental nationalist parks, including Lake Mead, Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

Researchers discovered Naegleria fowleri, which tin origin a fatal encephalon infection, aft surveying 40 thermally impacted recreational waters successful 5 nationalist parks and recreation areas successful nan occidental U.S.

For nan study, published by nan U.S. Geological Survey and its partner agencies, 185 samples were taken from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Scientists recovered nan uncommon amoeba successful astir one-third of nan samples, specifically from those taken from Lake Mead, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, according to nan study.

Naegleria fowleri is simply a one-celled organism that thrives successful lukewarm freshwater lakes, rivers and basking springs. It is often called nan “brain-eating amoeba” because it tin origin a fatal infection known arsenic superior amebic meningoencephalitis, aliases PAM.

Typically, less than 10 group get PAM successful nan U.S. each year, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, astir everyone who gets PAM dies from it.

Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are incredibly rare, but person a 98 percent fatality rate, according to nan study.

The U.S. has seen 167 cases of PAM from 1962 to 2024, according to nan CDC. Only 4 group survived nan disease.

“These findings bespeak that N. fowleri is coming successful thermally impacted areas crossed nan occidental United States and underscore nan usage of enhanced monitoring, nationalist awareness, and consequence guidance strategies successful thermally influenced waters,” scientists wrote.

The researchers encouraged “broadening surveillance” of N. fowleri, arsenic warming world temperatures are apt to origin nan organism to grow to caller geographic areas.

The Independent has contacted USGS and nan National Park Service for comment.