Why Quintana Roo Is Checking Waters for Brain-Eating Amoeba

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Following the detection of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba in artificial lakes in Mérida, Yucatán, health authorities in Quintana Roo are conducting inspections of lagoons and water storage areas to verify sanitary conditions and prevent risks to the population.

Jaime Torres Viveros, head of the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) in Quintana Roo, assured that no cases of this infection have been recorded in the state so far and affirmed that Quintana Roo remains without identified cases.

The increased surveillance comes after authorities in Yucatán closed six artificial lakes in Mérida following the detection of the microorganism. The case gained prominence after the death of a 33-year-old wakeboard instructor who worked at one of the sites where its presence was confirmed.

A Rare but Potentially Deadly Infection

Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the "brain-eating" amoeba, is a microorganism that primarily inhabits warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs. It can also be found in aquatic facilities that are not properly maintained and disinfected.

The infection occurs when contaminated water enters through the nose and the microorganism reaches the brain, where it can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rare disease that destroys brain tissue and has a mortality rate of over 97%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The risk is not from drinking contaminated water, nor is it transmitted from person to person. The main route of infection is the entry of contaminated water through the nostrils during activities such as swimming, diving, or practicing water sports in warm freshwater.

Prevention and Medical Warning

Although state authorities assure that there are no identified cases in Quintana Roo, the absence of reported infections does not, in itself, mean that all bodies of water are free of the amoeba.

Authorities therefore stress the importance of heeding health guidelines and taking precautions when engaging in recreational activities in lagoons, cenotes, and other freshwater bodies, especially when their sanitary quality is unknown.

Among the preventive measures recommended by the CDC are avoiding getting water into the nose, using nose clips when swimming or diving, and avoiding stirring up sediment in shallow areas of warm freshwater.

It is also recommended to seek immediate medical attention if, after a risky exposure, symptoms such as severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, or neck stiffness appear.

Limits of Surveillance

Health surveillance in Quintana Roo aims to anticipate potential risks following the findings in Yucatán. However, determining whether a specific body of water is contaminated requires appropriate assessments, and the absence of human cases alone does not guarantee the absence of the microorganism.