• Skip to main content
  • Skip to navigation
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Crest
Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia Crest

Additional Menu

  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
Go to WA Government search
  • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Feedback, compliments and complaints
    • Conduct and standards
    • Executive Committee
    • Health Service Provider
    • Community Advisory Council
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Visiting us
    • COVID-19 Information Hub
      • COVID testing clinics
      • Register your positive RAT result
    • Video Consultation
    • Elective surgery
    • Emergencies
    • Falls Management
    • Freedom of Information (FOI)
    • Informed consent
    • Interpreters
    • Our Healthcare Standards
    • Outpatients
    • Overseas patient fees
    • Private patients
    • Rights and responsibilities
    • Aishwaryas CARE Call
  • Our Services
  • For Health Professionals
    • Referring Patients
    • Referral forms
    • COVID information
      • Staff exposures and absences form
      • Register your positive RAT result
    • Outpatient services
    • GP Liaison
    • GP Visiting Rights
    • Centre for Nursing Education
    • Medical Education Unit
    • Simulation Centre
  • Research
    • Department of Research
      • Research 101
      • Who can I discuss my research project with?
      • Process for RGS Ethics and Governance submissions
      • Which documents do I need?
      • Clinical Trials
      • Contacts
      • News, Events and Annual Reports
      • FAQs
    • Research Foundation
    • Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Registry and DNA Bank
    • Centre for Nursing Research
  • Work with us
    • Current recruitment
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
      • Allied Health
      • Medical
      • Non-clinical
      • Nursing and Midwifery
      • Nursing Graduates
    • Centre for Nursing Education
    • Fellowships
    • Student placements
  • Latest News
    • Thanks to our staff
    • Stories from our patients
    • Provide Feedback
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. 2022
  4. 01
  5. 25
  6. Amoebic meningitis risk

Amoebic meningitis risk

Amoebic meningitis risk

Small child playing in water fountain
22/01/2022

With the unprecedented heat in WA, the Department of Health has released a timely warning about the potential of infection from the rare but deadly Amoebic Meningitis.

Managing Scientist Richard Theobald explained that, as amoebae thrive in water temperatures between 28˚C and 40˚C, it should be assumed that any warm fresh water potentially contains the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.

“The infection can affect people at any age. However, children and young adults are usually more susceptible to the infection due to their recreational water use and activities.”

Amoebic meningitis is caused by a single-celled amoeba that lives in fresh water and damp soil. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can survive in soil for a long time and still reactivate when put in fresh water.

Although there has not been a case of amoebic meningitis in Western Australia since the 1980s, Mr Theobald urged people not to become complacent about the infection.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family from this infection, go to the Department of Health media release (external site).

Previous Next
Last Updated: 31/01/2022
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Footer menu

  • wa.gov.au
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Brought to you by the Department of Health, Western Australia

© Government of Western Australia 2018 to