A US man has died from a brain-eating amoeba – possibly after rinsing his nose with tap water, health officials have said.

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed the death in a news release on 23 February but gave no details about the victim.

The naegleria fowleri infection was thought to be due to sinus rinsing but the department said it was still investigating.

Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism found in soil and fresh water worldwide.

The amoeba enters the body through the nose then travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and causes a devastating infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is almost always fatal.

Most infections come from swimming in warm lakes or rivers in the summer, as the organism likes heat and grows best in high temperatures.

Symptoms include headaches, fever, nausea, loss of balance, disorientation, seizures and a stiff neck.

Alex Murdaugh trial: US lawyer convicted of murdering wife and son

Alex Murdaugh: Trial of prominent lawyer found guilty of murdering wife and son prompts reopening of investigations into other deaths

Donald Trump: Mike Pence won’t commit to supporting the former president in 2024 US election

The department said people cannot be infected by drinking tap water and recommended that people use distilled or sterile water for sinus rinses.

Tap water should be boiled for at least one minute and cooled before sinus rinsing, they added.

Naegleria fowleri infections are rare, with just three confirmed cases in the US last year, according to official figures.

The cases occurred after exposure to fresh water in Iowa, Arizona and Nebraska.

There were three cases each in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Related posts:

US Congress passes ‘historic’ and ‘transformative’ COVID-19 relief bill Facebook’s Trump decision sends a message to politicians globally Bystander rescues man in wheelchair who fell on NYC subway tracks Five children – aged between two and nine – die in apartment fire NASA looking for people to spend a year pretending they live on Mars Wildfires break carbon emission records in US, Siberia, and Turkey, as climate change fans intense blazes, says EU Elon Musk ‘not sure’ Twitter takeover will succeed, but says he has ‘Plan B’ Elon Musk denies claims he sexually harassed a flight attendant in 2016 calling them ‘wild accusations’ Trump suing CNN as he claims defamation – and seeks $475m in damages Country music star Loretta Lynn dies aged 90 Kansas City Chiefs fight back to narrowly beat Philadelphia Eagles in classic Super Bowl ‘One dead and multiple injuries’ after shooting at US university – suspect ‘on foot’