Popular swimming spot Drakesbrook Weir is immediately shut down after horror discovery
A popular swimming spot has been closed after a potentially deadly organism was discovered.
Water at Drakesbrook Weir in Waroona, south of Perth, tested positive for naegleria amoeba after two weeks of routine testing.
The worrying discovery prompted an urgent warning to the public to stay out of the water ‘until further notice’.
The organism detected resembles the gruesome brain-eating naegleria fowleri.
The Shire of Waroona is now trying to rule out the presence of the deadly naegleria fowleri. The Western Australia reported.
This is the third time this year that the dam has been closed due to the presence of amoeba, after previous detections in January and April.
The Shire of Waroona has urged any swimmer who has recently submerged their head underwater at the swimming spot and felt unwell or worried to seek medical attention.
The amoeba organism thrives in standing water that is warm – so as temperatures rise, swimmers should be careful about entering untreated bodies of water.
Drakesbrook Weir in Waroona, south of Perth (pictured) has been closed to swimmers for the third time this year after a potentially fatal organism was found in the water
Swimmers are being urged to stay out of the water at the popular weir until further notice
The municipality has placed warning signs around the weir to make swimmers aware of the serious health risks.
Drakesbrook Weir is a popular spot for locals and tourists for its grassy picnic area, floating swimming platform and freshwater beach.
Naegleria fowleri causes the disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also called amoebic meningitis, a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue, according to NSW Health.
In the early stages, the symptoms of PAM may be similar to the symptoms of bacterial meningitis.
The first symptoms may be headache, fever, nausea or vomiting.
Later symptoms may include a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations.
The disease progresses rapidly after symptoms are first observed and death usually occurs within five days.
The amoeba organism thrives in warm, stagnant water and swimmers are urged to be cautious about entering untreated water as temperatures warm in summer.
The organism grows in warm water between 25C and 46C and can be found in lakes, rivers, dams, boreholes, tanks and pipelines.
It can also grow in naturally warm water, such as hot springs, and can also be found in swimming pools that are poorly maintained, under-chlorinated, or not chlorinated.
Only three cases of amoebic meningitis have been reported in Western Australia since the 1980s, but swimmers have still been warned to be careful.
People are known to be affected by the infection from freshwater bodies that do not contain enough chlorine, such as swimming pools or water parks.