The CDC advises people to take steps to avoid getting water up their nose when out in fresh water lakes or ponds.
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The Whitewater Center said in a statement that its man-made, closed-loop system of concrete channels and rapids uses only filtered and treated water from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities Department and two on-site wells.
“The levels of UV radiation disinfection utilized every day, continuously, at the Center are sufficient to “inactivate” the water born amoeba in question to an effective level of 99.99%”, the USNWC said.
“They had one day of recreation where they stopped at the U.S. Whitewater Center and went whitewater rafting – and they had a grand day”, church Senior Pastor Jim Wilson told WCMH.
The amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain where it causes the disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that destroys brain tissue.
An 18-year-old Westerville, Ohio, teen has died after she contracted a brain-eating amoeba called naegleria fowleri. Health officials do not believe she was infected in OH because the teen had not been swimming in any bodies of water since her church group visited the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, Kline said.
After her death was reported, the center released additional chlorine into the water and is requesting more tests.
“We think that the Whitewater Center is as safe as any body of open water”, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, Mecklenburg County Health Director.
Seitz was part of a 32-person youth group tour that was on a music mission tour, according to the church, in Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina.
Lauren Elisabeth Seitz of Westerville, Ohio, is shown in a photo posted on Hill Funeral Home’s website.
Naegleria fowleri infections are rare, officials said. But infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are rare: fewer than 10 cases have been reported annually in the United States over the last 53 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
A teen has died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba while swimming out of state. A celebration of her life was slated for Saturday at her church.
She was active in the Westerville South marching band and the group hosted a memorial and prayer vigil Tuesday night.
Try to limit the amount of water that goes up your nose.
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OH and North Carolina health officials are now investigating the incident.
