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Minn. lake off limits after boy dies from meningitis

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    9-year-old believed to have died from brain infection caused by amoeba

  • Duration 3:18
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But Minnesota lake is off limits to swimmers after a child who swam they -- apparently died of a rare form of meningitis nine year old.

-- -- -- Fell ill just days after swimming at Lily lake it was near Minneapolis and now the Minnesota Department of Health.

Is working to confirm if in fact he died of the infection that is caused by -- a -- that -- the boy's death.

Comes two years after a seven year old girl died in the same.

Make the same type of brain infection.

Swimming in Lily lake and joining us now is doctor Richard -- -- he's director of the first time center -- comprehensive medicine.

Thank you so much for joining us -- just such a horrible story tell us first how do you you know contract this rare form of meningitis.

Yeah this is a really tragic story and this particular bacteria actually it's eight.

That enters the the brain.

Through the nasal passages that's interesting because most of these -- is actually are ingested we -- dysentery is one of the big problems that you get when you.

Swimming contaminated water.

But in this case this bacteria this amoeba.

Gets into the brain through the nasal passage and causes meningitis.

So how do you avoid it happening avoid it.

Well one of the ways you can avoid it is by not swimming in lakes that may be infected it's important to understand.

That this particular amoeba is prevalent.

In lakes rivers and streams particularly in hot weather conditions.

That's what we're experiencing now but the and -- becomes more virulent.

When it's exposed to drought conditions because the water becomes concentrated.

So what people need to understand is if the are concerned right now avoid still bodies of water we -- distant -- may be present.

Speaking his nose plugs if you're if you're concerned that prevents the -- from actually getting into the neighbor's house and that's the only place and it enters -- and it's doing justice.

It's perfectly safe nothing will happen but it's only if if this happens -- the reason for that is it's actually fascinating.

Because this particular organism is able to adapt to its environment.

And -- can actually grow with tail.

And -- much like a sperm would swim.

And caused damage because it is mobile's and -- and -- within minutes of it finding an environment that it finds threatening.

And what about sent him is that once the infection takes.

We'll manage -- has very specific symptoms so the first thing you'll notices a headache.

Fever stiff -- same kinds of things -- experience with bacterial meningitis.

Or meningitis caused by Lyme Disease or virus so encephalitis can cause the same symptoms.

Secondary symptoms are often more severe hallucinations.

Seizures.

And ultimately coma.

And in this case this particular organism.

100% lethal actually only one case.

1978 where a person survive this so it is almost always certain that some of the exposed to this will die.

Yes -- try to avoid stagnant areas of water if you can't that's one of the things you can absolutely and also be careful nose plugs if you think about it -- I couldn't really stay out of out of anywhere that you think there might be a problem right thank you so much for joining us with some insight we appreciate it.

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