A member asked:

Can you get naegleria fowleri the brain eating amoeba from tap water? i got tap water up my nose. or can it not survive in tap water?

6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Louise Andrew answered

Specializes in Emergency Medicine

Not at all likely: Only in LA has tap water been found to contain NF. Even so, it is not easy to get infected. If you do nasal irrigation you should boil the water first, but just a splash would probably not be dangerous if the water is chlorinated tap water. See http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/public-water-systems.html

Answered 10/27/2017

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

When water is: properly chlorinated N. fowleri is killed. "Naegleria fowleri can grow in public and private water tanks and pipes, especially where little or no disinfectant (like chlorine or chloramine) is present. It can also grow in the pipes and water heaters of homes and buildings." It is exceedingly rare for municipal water not to be adequately chlorinated. >

Answered 11/27/2017

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