Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare disease caused by infection with the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This microscopic amoeba is commonly found in the environment and is more prevalent in warm, stagnant bodies of fresh water, such as land locked lakes, rivers, hot springs, unchlorinated pools, and in discharge or holding basins worldwide. The amoeba is most commonly found in shallow areas of water in the upper layer of sediment in the bottom of lakes and ponds with mud floors.
The threat of infection, although rare, increases during the summer months when the water temperature exceeds 86 degrees F when the parasite excysts into its infective trophozoite form.
Infection occurs rarely in humans when the amoeba is believed to enter the body through the nose and travel to the brain via the olfactory nerve. The safest way to prevent infection from an amoeba is to not swim in warm standing or stagnant water, such as lakes with no circulation, retention ponds, poorly maintained swimming pools, storm water holding areas or in places where “no swimming” signs are posted. The use of nose plugs when diving or jumping into water may also prevent infection, although no scientific studies have been conducted to prove or disprove this.
Our Clermont triathlon swims take place in Lake Louisa, a clean, fresh water lake with a white sandy bottom. Lake Louisa is the largest in a chain of 13 lakes connected by the Palatlakaha River, which is designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway.
