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Monday, September 12, 2011

US : Brain-eating amoeba claims fourth victim who picked up parasite after swimming in lake

Article via Daily Mail, excerpt :

" A Kansas resident died this week from what was likely a rare infection by a brain-eating amoeba - the fourth such case in the U.S. this year.

State and local officials warned residents to avoid activities in warm rivers, lakes and other bodies of heated, fresh water, including ponds near power plants.

Single deaths from such infections also have been reported this summer in Florida, Louisiana and Virginia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 120 cases - nearly all fatal - have been reported since the early 1960s.

The Kansas victim was from Sedgwick County. The person apparently went swimming in August in the city lake in Winfield, about 30 miles southeast of Wichita, said county spokeswoman Amanda Matthews.

The victim entered a hospital Aug. 19 complaining of headaches, developed breathing problems and died five days later."

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