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Lake Elsinore boy, 9, dies of infection by water-borne amoeba

Riverside County health officials urge swimmers to use caution after the death Saturday. It is not known where the boy contracted the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
By David Kelly, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 6, 2008
Riverside County health officials are urging swimmers to use caution after the death Saturday of a Lake Elsinore child infected with a waterborne parasite.

Authorities said it was unknown exactly where the 9-year-old boy contracted the deadly Naegleria fowleri amoeba. He had gone swimming in Lake Elsinore several times this summer.


The parasite lives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and poorly maintained swimming pools, experts say. It enters the brain through the nose, where it can cause a severe and nearly always fatal infection. This is the county's first confirmed case of the illness.

"The risk of infection is extremely low and is no different in Lake Elsinore than in any other warm-water lake," said Dr. Eric Frykman, a Riverside County public health officer. "This is not a new risk, but because of the unique nature of it and because it is fatal, we wanted to get this information out to the public."

There were 33 reported cases of infection in the U.S. from 1998 to 2007, the Riverside County Department of Public Health said. Symptoms of infection by Naegleria, which can kill in three days, include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck.


Frykman said that children seemed more susceptible to the illness than others but that this could be because they are in the water more often.

To lessen the chance of coming into contact with the amoeba, Frykman suggested the following:

* Avoid warm fresh water, hot springs and water around power plants.

* Avoid the water when temperatures are high and water levels are low.

* Hold your nose shut while in the water or use a nose clip.

* Don't dig or stir up sediment while in shallow freshwater areas.

I saw that in the paper this morning. Lake Smells Some More is pretty nasty. It is drainage from the San Jacinto Mountains through Hemet, Perris, Quail Valley, Canyon Lake and then just settles into the low basin that makes up Elsinore. By the time the water gets there, I'm sure its picked up a few other carcinegens and probably a little bit of speed from the "factories" along the way.

good to remember that this is also located at the hot springs in black canyon below hoover dam.

I did not know that. Thanks for the tip on that one. I won't be getting my head under water there ever again.

deepv - It's been about 5 years since our canoe trip but they used to have warning signs posted in the canyon leading to the hot springs. Not sure if they are still there. I'm talking about the canyon with the beach for camping and the pit toilets on the hill (AZ side).

It is a small percentage, mostly male, that are getting infected but it is my understanding that it is untreatable which is why there is such a scare.

Mostly male victims (due to higher physical activity?). It takes the infected water being forced through the membranes in your nasal passages that infects the brain. Cannon balls are out.

I believe there was one fatal case from a pool (but I was told that no normal person would be swimming in it, as it won't have chlorine and would be skanky water).

Be careful out there. It's not just the crazy boaters you have to watch out for.

Semper Fi 75

Youthful males are more likely to dig up mud on the shore and then swim in it than females, I think.

As far as the hot springs go, I was thinking of the one just below the boom from Hoover Dam, maybe ¼ mile downstream from the canoe lauch point at the base of the dam, not the other one on the AZ side. I would imagine that they would/could be in either location, although it would be virtually imposible for them to cross the Colorado River with the swift current and 55 degree tempurature up there in Black Canyon.

The signage located at the hot springs on the Arizona side says that to keep your head above the water while sitting in the pools and to avoid getting the hot water in your nose. I have not seen signage at the Nevada side but it's been years since I have visited the Nevada side.