Advisory: Child died of water infection
BARTOW (AP) – A health advisory has been issued for swimmers in Polk County after a 10-year-old died of an infection of the central nervous system.
The health department reported Monday that the child died last month of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis – or PAM. It’s an infection caused by a naturally occurring amoeba.
The child had gone swimming in Lake Arietta. Health officials said tests confirmed that he suffered from a serious form of meningitis and encephalitis. Final tests were consistent with PAM.
The amoeba can be found in fresh water and swimming pools with little or non-chlorinated water. It can cause PAM by traveling up the nose to the brain and spinal cord. The threat of infection, although very rare, increases especially during hot summer months.