Recent testing has confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri ameba in the St. John Water District 1 water system, which serves 12,577 individuals in the towns of Reserve, Garyville, and Mt. Airy. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced confirmation of the ameba’s presence in the water system.

The water system sampling was done in conjunction with the DHH’s surveillance program that launched earlier in August. The ameba testing indicated that the water system did not comply with the State’s emergency rule that requires water systems to maintain a certain disinfectant residual level of 0.5 milligrams per liter within all of their distribution lines. This level is known to help control the Naegleria fowleri ameba.

In response to the presence of the ameba in the water, the DHH has issued an emergency order requiring the water district to run a free-chlorine burn, which involves maintaining 1.0 mg/l of free chlorine within the system for 60 days in order to effectively kill the amebae in the water system.

J.T. Lane, DHH Public Health Assistant Secretary, said in a statement, “We are working closely with the water system and parish officials to ensure that the chlorine levels are increased to a level that will reduce the risk of exposure to the ameba.” Lane continued, “Water from St. John Water District 1 remains safe to drink; however, we do have guidance for residents on steps they can take to reduce their risk.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as “brain-eating amoeba” is a single-celled living organism that can cause a rare but devastating infection of the brain known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The source notes that it is not possible to become infected by drinking contaminated water.