Missouri man in ICU with PAM after Lake of the Ozarks exposure

A Missouri resident is in an intensive care unit with primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but usually fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, after reportedly waterskiing days earlier at the Lake of the Ozarks. Health officials say a laboratory test confirmed the presence of the organism, and they are continuing an investigation to determine the source of exposure. Officials emphasize that the infection remains extremely uncommon, even in areas with frequent recreational water use.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says the patient is an adult treated in an intensive care setting for PAM, a brain infection that occurs when the amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain. At this stage, no other cases are suspected in the vicinity. While investigators consider the possibility that the Lake of the Ozarks was involved, officials caution that a definitive link has not yet been established. The lake is a popular destination for boating, swimming and watersports, and local beaches remain open.

Naegleria fowleri is a heat-loving organism found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers and hot springs. It is not spread from...