Damn. And here I thought this was just a really bad hangover.

I'm... uh, I'mmmmm...hm. Yeah.

I can assure you we don't have that in Pennsylvania. The lead, mercury, PCB's, other heavy metals and fracking chemicals would kill them off.

this explains a lot of the people I know from Louisiana.

Good thing I'm not in Louisiana, not that this thing would affect me. Ain't much up in the ol' noggin for them amoebas to eat.

Those must be some starving bacterias.

Begun, the zombie wars have.

Amoebae are bacteria?

Dead for Tax Reasons: Amoebae are bacteria?

I don't think it is. Amoebas are eukaryotic where bacterias are prokaryotic.

CrispFlows: Dead for Tax Reasons: Amoebae are bacteria?

I don't think it is. Amoebas are eukaryotic where bacterias are prokaryotic.

I see you aren't subby then. All 50 states can step forward for their question. Unless there really are brain eating bacteria out there too

GWSuperfan: this explains a lot of the people I know from Louisiana.

In the small amount of time I spent in Louisiana the folk I encountered were the nicest I've ever encountered.

Still wouldn't want to live there...

CrispFlows: Dead for Tax Reasons: Amoebae are bacteria?

I don't think it is. Amoebas are eukaryotic where bacterias are prokaryotic.

It even says "amoeba" in the article.

FTA...Although Naegleria fowleri is most commonly found in pond water, lakes and rivers, officials said that two people in Mississippi recently fell victim to to the amoeba, seemingly after they used tap water in their neti pots.

From wikipedia: Although not a true amoeba, the organism is often referred to as an amoeba for convenience.

There, that should clear everything up.

cryinoutloud: RexTalionis: Good thing I'm not in Louisiana, not that this thing would affect me. Ain't much up in the ol' noggin for them amoebas to eat.

If people are putting water up their noses, there's probably not much up in their noggin either. Unless they're drowning or being waterboarded.

Actually, nasal lavage is a legitimate means of therapy for people with various sinus or allergy issues. It's been around for thousands of years and is generally safe (granted, the water has to be clean).

Also, it really isn't meant to "drown" you. Behind your nose are the major sinus cavities which are usually empty. But when you get sick and your sinus cavities are infected, there's mucus that's just full of whatever is ailing you hanging about your sinuses (this is why you have the thick bright green or orange snot when you get sick). The idea of nasal lavage is to pass an isotonic saline solution through your sinuses so as to clear out the infected mucus from your sinus. It's also good for people with allergies because it can wash allergens out of the sinuses as well.

nekom: From wikipedia: Although not a true amoeba, the organism is often referred to as an amoeba for convenience.

There, that should clear everything up.

It is still a eukaryote, wheras bacteria are not

Dead for Tax Reasons: It is still a eukaryote, wheras bacteria are not

So it's not a bacteria, it's not an amoeba. It just doesn't fit in anywhere. No wonder it kills people. Poor little thing.

Two more deaths to chalk up to psuedoscience

RexTalionis: It's also good for people with allergies because it can wash allergens out of the sinuses as well.

Yeah, I can vouch that while being a fairly uncomfortable method of treatment, it does help clear out sinuses.

No bugs in mine. My water is filtered and chemically purified Mississippi River water. Yum.

These people must have had well water that was not filtered. Well water in south Louisiana is probably not much different than swamp water.