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Louisiana residents are reminded of the dangers of using tap water while using nasal rinses and contact lenses after 10 cases of rare Acanthamoeba infections were identified since 2024.
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issued the alert, informing residents that Acanthamoeba can cause eye infections or, more rarely, sinus, skin or brain infections, depending on how it enters the body.
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Acanthamoeba is a microscopic organism often found in soil, dust and water, including tap water.
DELMAR, NY – JANUARY 9: Filtered tap water flows from the kitchen faucet of Bethlehem resident Jessica Dillon on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in Delmar, NY
(Will Waldron/Albany Times Union/Getty Images)
Exposure to this amoeba is common, but infection is rare, the Health Ministry said.
Of the 10 cases recorded in Louisiana since 2024, eight of them were Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is an eye infection that can cause permanent vision loss in otherwise healthy people.
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Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause eye pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing or the feeling that there is something in the eye, LDH said. “Contact lens wearers experiencing these symptoms should promptly consult an eye care professional.”
Obtained from an eye sample taken from a patient in Thailand, who had contracted an infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
(CDC/IMAGE POINT FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
LDH said seven of the cases occurred in contact lens wearers and five of the eight cases resulted in permanent vision loss.
Two serious cases were recorded in Louisiana in 2026.
One person got the infection in their sinuses and the other in their brain and died.
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Both people with serious infections reported using nasal irrigation systems with tap water.
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(Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images)
The LDH said tap water could not be established as the source of the infections, but it nonetheless warns residents of the dangers of using tap water in such situations.
Drinking tap water poses no risk of contracting Acanthamoeba, but using it for rinsing the sinuses or nose or cleaning or storing contact lenses is very dangerous.
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Acanthamoeba is a free-living microscopic amoeba, or amoeba (single-celled living organism), that can cause rare but serious infections of the eyes, skin, and central nervous system. The amoeba is present all over the world in the environment, in water and soil. via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
“Although these infections are rare, they can have devastating consequences,” said Theresa Sokol, Louisiana state epidemiologist. “Using the right water for nasal rinsing, following good contact lens hygiene, and taking precautions with medical devices can help reduce risk. These steps are especially important for people with weakened immune systems.”
Symptoms vary depending on the infection and may be difficult to recognize. People with weakened immune systems who develop symptoms such as seizures, confusion, headache, weakness, fever, or sinus, visual, skin, or other disturbances should seek medical attention as soon as possible and inform their health care provider of any recent nasal rinsing or other potential exposure to water, LDH said.
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LDH recommends following these precautions:
- For nasal rinsing: Always use distilled, sterile or previously boiled and cooled water in neti pots, squeeze bottles and other nasal irrigation devices. Do not use untreated tap water for use or cleaning.
- For contact lenses: Never use tap water to clean or store contact lenses.. Use recommended contact lens solutions, follow proper cleaning and storage instructions, and remove lenses before swimming, showering, or using a hot tub.
- For medical devices: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for water use, cleaning, and maintenance of devices such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines.
- For people with weakened immune systems: Talk to a healthcare provider about precautions when using nasal irrigation devices and other equipment that may involve exposure to water.
LDH has issued a health advisory to Louisiana healthcare providers to increase awareness of these infections, encourage early recognition, and reinforce prevention recommendations.
For more information on Acanthamoeba infections and their prevention, visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acanthamoeba Infections Website.
Gn Health
