Urgent warning over using tap water to clean contact lenses after one dies and five suffer from vision loss

Health officials in Louisiana are urgently warning people not to use tap water to rinse their contact lenses or nasal pblockages because of the risk of infection.

The state’s Department of Health said Thursday that it had linked the habit to 10 infections since 2024, including five that led to vision loss and one that led to a fatal brain infection.

All the patients were infected with the dangerous amoeba Acanthamoeba. Eight infections were caused by Acanthamoeba keratitis, an infection that attacks the eye’s cornea.

LDH states that two of the infections occurred this year, one affecting the patient’s sinuses and the other attacking a patient’s brain. The latter case in the brain was fatal. 

No identifying details have been released about the individual who died, including their name, age, *** or where they lived. 

LDH said the two individuals infected this year had weakened immune systems and used nasal irrigation devices. Additionally, seven of those infected since 2024 wore contact lenses. 

Theresa Sokol, state epidemiologist, said in a press release: ‘Although these infections are rare, they can have devastating consequences.

‘Using the right water for nasal rinsing, following proper contact lens hygiene, and taking precautions with medical devices can help reduce the risk. These steps are especially important for people with weakened immune systems.’

LDH also notes that while the ‘reported use of tap water does not establish it as the source of these infections… it underscores the importance of following safe water practices. 

‘Drinking tap water is not considered a risk for Acanthamoeba infection. However, tap water should not be used for nasal rinsing or to clean or store contact lenses.’

Millions of Americans use tap water to clean their nasal pblockages or contacts every year. 

For cleaning nasal pblockages, health officials say tap water should be boiled and then cooled to kill any micro-organisms that may be lurking in it.

For cleaning contact lenses, LDH suggests using contact lens solutions and avoiding the use of tap water. 

People who wear contact lenses were also advised to remove them before swimming, showering or using a hot tub.

Acanthamoeba can bypblock standard water treatment processes and hide within biofilms lining household pipes, allowing it to get into tap water. However, it is harmless to drink. 

It can also be found in freshwater lakes, swimming pools, HVAC systems, soil and dust. 

No further details were revealed, including where in Louisiana the infections were recorded. It has not been recorded in any other states recently and has only been detected a handful of times since 1955 in the following states: California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Mblockachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Arizona, South Carolina, Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan. 

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare eye infection resulting in 800 to 1,500 cases per year in the US, though it is rarely fatal and only causes a handful of deaths annually. 

It leads to severe eye pain, a foreign body sensation in the eye, redness, irritation, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and, in severe cases, vision loss.

Acanthamoeba can also cause the brain infection granulomatous amebic encephalitis, leading to brain swelling. It strikes 20 to 30 Americans per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Acanthamoeba rhinosinusitis affects the nasal cavity and sinuses and infects three to 12 Americans annually. 

Acanthamoeba infections outside of the eyes, called Non-Keratitis infections, have a mortality rate between 80 and 100 percent. 

LDH states these infections typically affect people with weakened immune systems. The agency encourages immunocompromised people who develop ‘concerning symptoms such as seizures, confusion, headaches, weakness, fevers, or sinus, visual, skin or other disturbances’ to seek immediate medical attention.

LDH said it has also issued an advisory to healthcare providers in the state to increase awareness of these infections.