(CNN) — A rare brain-eating amoeba that killed a 4-year-old boy in Louisiana may be a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Tests of St. Bernard Parish water supply confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri.
Naegleria fowleri is found in hot springs and warm fresh water, most often in the southeastern United States. It enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain.
The reduced population following the hurricane left most of the water stagnant, which affected its makeup.
“One of the concerns is that it was such a drastic population drop after Katrina and the water aged … just by sitting in the pipes and also a drop in lower demand,” said Jake Cause, chief engineer for the state’s health and hospitals.
Source: CNN
