Deadly"brain-eating" amoeba infections usually strike people in southern U.S. states, but thanks to climate change, the brain-invading organism has expanded its range northward. In light of this trend, the Ohio Public Health Association recently published a case report to raise awareness of the disease among health care providers in the state.
PAM is rare — since 1962, about zero to eight cases have been reported nationwide each year, the case report noted. Most of these infections have been linked to swimming in the South, particularly in Florida and Texas, but since 2010, cases have started to occur in more northern states, including the Midwestern states Minnesota, Kansas and Indiana.
RELATED STORIES—'Brain-eating' amoeba case in Florida potentially tied to unfiltered water in sinus rinse—'Brain-eating' amoeba in Texas city's water supply kills 6-year-old "The patient responded favorably to the medication. Two weeks after symptom onset, she recovered with minimal neurological damage and was able to resume a high quality of life with her family," the report says.