| Read the "white paper" and a Q&A on this rare water recreation illness. More... |
On Sept. 7, the Lubbock County Medical Examiner confirmed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) was the cause of death for a Lubbock resident who died after wake-boarding at Lake LBJ. In August, the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed a case of PAM in a 12-year-old boy who had previously swum in a cove of Lake LBJ.
LCRA continues to work closely and exchange information with the Texas Department of State Health Services, which is the state authority on public health issues.
Although the ameba (single-celled organism) that causes the disease is common, the disease is very rare. Infection is believed to occur when water containing the micro-organism is forced into the nasal passages, usually when skiing or diving or jumping into the water.
In 1980, one reported case of PAM was associated with Lake Austin. Before this year, the last reported case in Texas was in 2005, and there have been 34 total reported cases in Texas since 1972, according to state officials.
Under LCRA’s Land and Water Use Regulations, LCRA’s general manager is authorized in the case of extreme flooding, water contamination, or other emergency or natural disaster, to declare restrictions on the use of all or any portion of LCRA water for a period not to exceed 30 days, as deemed necessary and convenient for purposes of public health, safety and welfare.
The ameba that causes this illness is common to almost all lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks and other bodies of fresh water. Its presence in water does not make the water contaminated. LCRA, following state standards, focuses on incidents of water pollution such as chemical spills and not naturally occurring organisms.
"Swimming in lakes, streams and other natural bodies of water always carries a risk," said Yolanda Holmes, epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Region 7.
The ameba also thrives when water temperatures are higher, usually above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So health officials recommend that people who swim, ski or participate in other contact recreation activities in the water always take precautions to protect against contracting the ameba.
"Closing a lake does not address the steps people should take when swimming in natural water bodies," Holmes said. "Because there is no way to regulate bodies of fresh water, people should be reminded to take some general precautions when swimming, skiing or diving in them."
Health officials recommend the following tips for safeguarding against the ameba:
- Never swim in stagnant or polluted water.
- Do not swim in areas posted as "No Swimming."
- Hold your nose or use nose plugs when jumping or diving into water.
- Avoid swallowing water from rivers, lakes, streams, or stock ponds.
- Use earplugs, swim goggles, or masks if you tend to get ear or eye infections.
- Keep wading pools clean and change the water daily.
- Wash open skin cuts and scrapes with clean water and soap.
For more information on primary amebic meningoencephalitis and additional easy-to-follow personal precautions to help reduce the risk of water-related illnesses, go to the Texas Department of State Health Services Web site at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/primary_amebic_meningoencephalitis/faqs. For questions specifically related to health concerns about Lake LBJ, call the Texas Department of State Health Services Epidemiology Department at (254) 778-6744.
