amoebic meningoencephalitis

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Originally Posted by Danseur

Unbelievably this is what killed my 14 yr old cousin last year in LA. Water ski-ing in the river, came home, headache that kept coming, 3 days later he was gone. Just freaky and horrible.

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My condolences. That's just really tragic.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2...on-ar-1240873/

We just lost a kid up here in Virginia, too.

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Originally Posted by Squirrel Girl

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2...on-ar-1240873/

We just lost a kid up here in Virginia, too.

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And we were worried when "Jaws" came out :(

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Originally Posted by mdax

ok, so this is not cool. Are there any cave systems that have had instances of these types of amoeba? Does it happen at other times of the year? Anyone have information regarding sites to avoid?

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Apparently, Florida has issued another recent warning in regard to this... See this CNN report.

Any thoughts on the probability of this in our Florida springs, etc. I would hope the waters are not warm/stagnant enough, but with the river intrusions due to weather, I'm not certain.

I've always considered Eagle's Nest a prime spot for something like this to be present. Warm and stagnant, esp in summer time.

Its been reported in a few sinkholes I know about that have stagnant water on top. So definitely not unheard of... :(

I've heard that a prevention, aside from not diving, and not snorting the nasty water.... is to snort saline solution up your nose (after the dive). Its a nasty option, but it will kill the buggers. Its questionable if they can enter via the ear, but throw in your ear beer, whatever the mix, and I bet it would kill anything in there.

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Originally Posted by tj

I've heard that a prevention, aside from not diving, and not snorting the nasty water.... is to snort saline solution up your nose (after the dive). Its a nasty option, but it will kill the buggers. Its questionable if they can enter via the ear, but throw in your ear beer, whatever the mix, and I bet it would kill anything in there.

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I definitely do ear beer, but my own special brew (boric acid instead of vinegar). I would hope that the mask helps a little in keeping the nose pinched, but that's absolutely no guarantee, especially if it leaks or comes off while submerged.

Perhaps some of us that are into water sampling/analysis or a regular basis at the dive sites can chime in here. Is this one of the things tested?

The answer is simple, just wear one of these:

http://www.emandlo.com/wordpress/wp-..._naked_gun.jpg

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Originally Posted by tj

I've heard that a prevention, aside from not diving, and not snorting the nasty water.... is to snort saline solution up your nose (after the dive). Its a nasty option, but it will kill the buggers. Its questionable if they can enter via the ear, but throw in your ear beer, whatever the mix, and I bet it would kill anything in there.

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Actually, that won't do anything. Remember last year Netti Pot started labeling their boxes to state something to the effect of using Clean, Distilled, Bottled Water, after someone used Tap Water from a well containing Amoeba. They mixed their pot with tap water and the Netti pot solution only to introduce the amoeba into their nose, killing them a few days later.

Also, unless there's a tear or rupture in your eardrum, there is no path from outer ear into inner ear or sinuses. So doubtful they could get in that way.

This has been quite the conversation growing up as my step father is an aquatic biologist. From what I remember, the water has to be very warm (more than 80 degrees). The amoeba tends to live on the surface of stagnant water. I know last year when I was in the standing water at P1 I was worried if it could be a breeding ground. I'll admit, I'm a bit paranoid. Living in Florida as a child, there was usually a death every year or two some of them pretty close by.

Don't take any chances.

here's a link to the netti pot issue
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...igation-finds/