A brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, was discovered in public drinking water in a New Orlean’s parish. The city’s water treatment operations have been directed to conduct a 60-day chlorine burn out to abolish the parasite. (Full report found at Sentinel Republic here).

Parish President Dave Peralta told the state the burn “may not be necessary, but out of an abundance of caution we’re going to do it”.

“As Naegleria fowleri infections are extremely rare, testing for this amoeba in public drinking water is still relatively new and evolving”, officials released in a statement.

Pronounced, Naegleria fowleri (nuh-GLEER’-ee-uh FOW’-lur-ee), a second positive sample was taken in Arabi, but in this instance, officials suspect a leak from a sampling station could have contaminated the water. Nevertheless, a 4-year-old boy’s life was taken, and the system provides water to roughly 44,000 consumers as the water is currently being sterilized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised locals to follow their own set of guidelines to stay safe. The water has been treated with appropriate chlorine levels.

State officials declared they tested water at other areas across the city.

Small inflatable plastic pools that children swim in need to be handled with special directives, as the conditions allow water to get in the noses of children where the parasite is most likely to spread. Studies indicate that it doesn’t cause harm if it’s swallowed or gets on skin.

Proper disinfecting and drying the pools ensures safety. It’s also advised to boil water with sterile saline solution. Full instructions on how to properly handle the water are detailed in the report.