Devastating amoeba lurking in tap water linked to permanent vision loss in Southern state

Trouble is flowing from the faucets in Louisiana.State health officials issued an urgent warning to residents this week after a microscopic organism commonly found in tap water was linked to five cases of permanent blindness and one death.“Although these infections are rare, they can have devastating consequences,” state epidemiologist Theresa Sokol said in a press release.Since 2024, authorities have identified 10 cases of Acanthamoeba-related illness across the state.

The microscopic amoeba is commonly found in soil, dust and water, including what’s coming out of the bathroom sink.While most people will encounter the microscopic bug at some point without ever getting sick, an infection can have devastating consequences for those who do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The amoeba can enter the body through cuts or open wounds, inhalation into the nose or lungs, or through the eyes — particularly when contact lenses come into contact with contaminated water.Where it takes hold determines how dangerous it can be, with consequences ranging from painful eye problems to potentially fatal brain disease.One of the most common conditions it causes is Acanthamoeba keratitis, which affects the cornea — the clear outer layer of the eye.

The condition can afflict even otherwise healthy people and lead to permanent vision loss.Of the 10 Louisiana cases reported over the past two years, eight involved this type of eye infection.Seven of those patients wore contact lenses, and five were left permanently blind.Two other Louisiana patients developed particularly severe forms of the disease, one affecting the sinuses and the other the brain.

The latter was ultimately fatal.Both patients had weakened immune systems and reported using tap water in nasal irrigation devices, which are designed to flush out the sinuses.State health officials said that while the reported use of tap water doesn’t establish it as the source of these infections, it...