Mexico: “Brain-eating” amoeba detected in Yucatán, six lakes closed

The death of a water ski instructor last September triggered a series of health checks in the state of Yucatán, in southeastern Mexico. The man had contracted Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba nicknamed "brain eater", responsible for an extremely rare, but almost always fatal, brain infection. Analyzes carried out by health authorities revealed the presence of the microorganism in six artificial lakes, now closed to the public.

These bodies of water, located in shopping centers and luxury residences, usually host activities such as water skiing, paddle boarding or kayaking. This is the first death linked to this amoeba recorded in the Yucatán, a tourist region renowned for its beaches, Mayan remains and cenotes, these natural freshwater pools. The authorities have also decided to strengthen health surveillance of the latter.

The amoeba thrives in warm water

Yucatán's Secretary of Health, Alberto Alcocer, however, wanted to reassure the population on Wednesday. “Finding this amoeba in the environment does not mean that there is an epidemic, nor that the people who visited these places are sick,” he clarified in a video. The official recalled that contamination occurs when infected water enters the nasal passages, urging potentially exposed people to seek immediate medical attention.

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