Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was first documented in Australia in 1965.^[1][2] In the United States, there have been 128 PAM infections from 1962 through 2012 with only one survivor. These infections have primarily occurred in 15 southern-tier states, with more than half of all infections occurring in Texas and Florida.

• Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was first documented in Australia in 1965.^[1][2] In 1966, four cases were reported in the USA. By 1968 the causative organism, previously thought to be a species of Acanthamoeba or Hartmanella, was identified as Naegleria. This same year, occurrence of 16 cases over period of two years (1963–1965) was reported in Ústí nad Labem.^[3] In 1970, the species of amoeba was named N. fowleri.^[4]
• In 2010, a 7-year-old girl in Stillwater, Minnesota died of the disease.^[5]
• In August 2010, 7-year-old Kyle Lewis died after contracting the protist from swimming in Lake Granbury and warm water near Glen Rose, Texas. Texas authorities say this is the tenth case since 2000.^[6]
• In August 2011, a 16-year-old girl in Mims, Florida died after swimming in the St. John’s River a week earlier. Doctors found N. fowleri in her cerebral spinal fluid.^[7]
• As of December 2011, two individuals in Louisiana died after inhaling infected tap water while using a neti pot.^[8][9]
• In July 2012, an 8 year old boy from Sumter, SC died after swimming in Lake Marion (South Carolina).^[10]
• In southern part of Pakistan, 8 people died within a week of July 2012.^[11]
• In August 2012, Jack Ariola Erenberg, a 9 year old boy from Stillwater, Minnesota, died after swimming in Lily Lake near his home.^[12]
• In August 2012, Waylon Abel, 30, of Loogootee IN died after swimming in West Boggs Lake near his home.^[13]

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