The Murweh Shire Council issued a health alert on 7/8, warning residents and visitors about the discovery. Tests of water samples at two healthcare facilities and the main water supply for the towns of Augathella and Charleville confirmed the presence of the dangerous amoeba.
Augathella, with a population of about 300, and Charleville, with 3,000 residents, are both located approximately 750 km southwest of Brisbane. The Queensland Department of Health stated that the water remains safe for daily use, provided residents take precautions such as not using shower water to rinse their noses. Health experts also advised residents to supervise children while bathing and avoid submerging their heads in pools filled with tap water.
 |
Brain-eating amoeba under a microscope. Photo: Reno Gazette |
Brain-eating amoeba under a microscope. Photo: Reno Gazette
Naegleria fowleri is a microorganism typically found in untreated freshwater and soil, thriving in temperatures between 25 and 40 degrees Celsius. It can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but often fatal brain infection. However, infection only occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the brain through the nose, not through drinking, cooking, or washing clothes.
Infection symptoms usually appear after three to seven days and include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, drowsiness, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, altered sense of taste and smell, and seizures.
Murweh Shire CEO, Bruce Scott, urged residents to remain calm and follow health authority guidelines. "This is a new situation for the council, but we hope to have experts provide solutions soon," Scott said.
The last reported case of PAM in Queensland was over 10 years ago. The Murweh Shire Council is testing the water supply to determine the extent of contamination and will develop a risk mitigation strategy. The Queensland Department of Health advises that the amoeba cannot survive in clean, cool, and properly chlorinated water.
(ABC, SBS News)
