Texas woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water for sinus rinse

A Texas woman died from an infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after using tap water in a nasal irrigation device, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The woman died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, a rare but often fatal brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri organism, a case report published by the agency last week said.

The previously healthy 71-year-old developed severe symptoms, including fever, headache and altered mental status, within four days after using the nasal irrigation device, the case report said. Despite medical treatment for a suspected PAM infection, eight days after the symptoms began, she developed seizures and died.

The tap water she used for the sinus rinse came from an RV's water system at a campground in