Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills Man, 34, at La Isla Lake

Health authorities in Mérida have closed the artificial lake at La Isla Shopping Center after a maintenance worker is suspected to have died from a brain-eating amoeba. 

A 34-year-old maintenance worker at La Isla’s artificial lake has died after being hospitalized with a severe brain infection caused by what is commonly known as a brain-eating amoeba.

While recreational activities have been on tap in the past, health authorities closed the shopping complex’s lake as a precaution. The artificial lake at La Isla is used for wakeboarding, water skiing, as well as several other water sports. 

Patient Timeline and Hospitalization

The patient was admitted on Sept. 2 to the IMSS Hospital General Regional No. 12 in Mérida, where he required specialized care in the Intensive Care Unit due to the severity of his condition. 

During his hospitalization, he experienced neurological deterioration and severe cerebral edema, requiring mechanical ventilation and treatment with antiparasitic, antibiotic, and antifungal medications, as well as drugs to maintain vital functions. Despite medical efforts, he died on September 8. 

The worker was employed at the artificial lake at Plaza La Isla, where he served as an aquatic sports instructor and had continuous exposure to the water. Health authorities identified this occupational exposure as a significant factor in their epidemiological investigation.

What Authorities Have Confirmed

Miguel Alberto Alcocer Gamboa, Secretary of Health of Yucatán, stated that there is a “high suspicion” that the infection occurred at the lake due to the worker’s constant presence in the water. However, he emphasized that confirmation is still pending laboratory results.

The Secretary confirmed the cause of death as an infection caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri, though the clinical case remains officially classified as “probable” until test results are finalized. He explained that the infection occurs when contaminated water enters through the nasal passages, typically during diving or sudden immersion. It cannot be transmitted from person to person, and drinking contaminated water is not the mechanism under investigation.

Lake Closure and Sampling

On Sept. 4, personnel from the Directorate for Protection against Health Risks collected water samples and ordered the lake’s precautionary closure to prevent public access while studies are conducted.

The samples were sent to the State Public Health Laboratory of Yucatán and subsequently forwarded to its counterpart in Hidalgo, which has the analytical framework necessary to perform the specialized testing. Results are expected between Friday and early next week, with a processing time of approximately seven to 10 days.

Authorities said that the closure is a preventive measure and does not imply a generalized risk to the population of Yucatán. No other workers have reported symptoms related to the case.

Understanding the Infection

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis is a rare but almost always fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by Naegleria fowleri. The amoeba enters the brain through the nasal passages and travels along the olfactory nerves. Early symptoms include severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the disease progresses, patients may experience stiff neck, confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Health officials noted that even if the amoeba is present in a body of water, infection is considered an extraordinary occurrence.