Brain Eating Amoeba

This story makes for one of the greatest headlines of all time, but I hesitated writing anything about it for fear of stoking a panic. It looks like there's going to be a panic anyway. This year, there have been six fatalities due to Naegleria, an amoeba that consumes brain tissue, infecting people exposed to fresh water lakes. On average, Naegleria infections have led to only between two and three cases a year since 1995, so this sudden spike is causing a bit of a freak out. The working theory right now is that an average increase in fresh water temperatures has benefited Naegleria and increased its usual numbers. It lives on the sediment at the bottom of lakes, but it infects humans who disturb the lake bottom and end up with water up their noses from swimming. But this isn't a tiny Jaws we're talking about here. Naegleria infection, while terrifying in its ability to kill you within two weeks, is preventable. If you're swimming in a fresh water lake, wear nose plugs. Or just ride out the statistics. After all six people out of everyone who swims in a lake isn't all that many. Just to compare, according to the CDC, about 700 people die in boating accidents every year. More details here.