Amoeba infections leave 5 with permanent vision loss, 1 dead in this state

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - The Louisiana Department of Health has identified 10 Acanthamoeba infections since 2024, including one fatal brain infection this year. The state epidemiologist said contact lens wearers should remove their lenses before showering, swimming or using a hot tubTheresa Sokol, state epidemiologist for the Louisiana Department of Health, said Acanthamoeba is found in many environments.What Acanthamoeba is“Acanthamoeba are what are referred to as a free-living amoeba,” Sokol said. “These are single-celled organisms that live in the environment. They’re in soil, they’re in dust, and they’re in fresh and salt water.”Sokol said the organisms also can be found in swimming pools, drinking water systems, and HVAC systems.“Pretty much everyone is going to be exposed to Acanthamoeba during their lifetime,” Sokol said. “The good news is that most people exposed to Acanthamoeba aren’t going to get sick, but for a few people it can cause serious infections of the sin