Travis County resident dies of amoebic infection after swimming in Lake Lyndon B. Johnson

A Travis County resident died from a rare illness after swimming in Lake Lyndon B. Johnson earlier this month.

The sickness was caused by an amoebic meningitis infection, according to an Austin Public Health news release.

“Although these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that there are microbes present in natural bodies of water that can pose risks of infection,” Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said in the release. “Increased temperatures over the summer make it ideal for harmful microorganisms to grow and flourish.”

Closer to Dallas, the city of Arlington announced the closing all its public pools and splash pads after a water sample from one of its splash pads had a presumed positive test for the presence of brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. Additional testing is being done to confirm the finding.

Swimming in natural bodies of water comes with some risks, like amoebic infections, the Austin release said.

To reduce the risk of infection, people can take precautions, such as limiting the amount of water going into your nose, avoiding water-related activities in warm fresh water during periods of high water temperature and low water levels, and not digging or stirring up sediment in areas with shallow water levels.

Amoebic meningitis doesn’t occur if water is swallowed, the health officials said, but it can be deadly if it’s forced up the nose, which can occur when jumping into water, diving and other water activities.

The amoeba isn’t found in salt water or properly maintained and chlorinated pools.

Symptoms of an amoebic meningitis, an infection of the brain, can start with a severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting before progressing to a stiff neck, seizures and a coma that can cause death, officials said. The illness can last days after the exposure.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis infections are rare, according to the release, with only 39 known infected individuals in Texas between 1962 and 2022.