A brain-eating amoeba responsible for the death of a 4-year-old boy was discovered in the drinking water of St. Bernard Parish, La.’s water system, prompting the area to shut off access to drinking water. The amoeba is known as Naegleria fowleri, a parasite that thrives in stagnant, warm water, and is not particularly uncommon in fresh water. However, it’s not a parasite that’s typically found in water supply systems, causing those in the New Orleans area to question why and how their water supply became contaminated.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 21:37:44 +0000