Louisiana Monitors Amoeba Infections Tied to Tap Water

State health officials are tracking rare Acanthamoeba cases that can affect the eyes, sinuses and brain, mostly in people with weakened immune systems.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Home Cleaning

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a chrome tap running over a white sink with a ceramic neti pot on the rim, in a quiet tiled bathroom. — Louisiana health officials are tracking 10 rare Acanthamoeba tap-water infections over the past two years, while saying tap water remains safe to drink. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust your local tap water to be safe for everyday household use?

The Louisiana Department of Health is monitoring cases of Acanthamoeba, an amoeba found in tap water, dust and soil that can cause infections of the eyes, sinuses and brain. Officials have tracked 10 infections in Louisiana over the last two years, and say tap water remains safe to drink.

Why it matters

Infections from the amoeba are rare but can cause serious harm, including permanent vision loss in severe eye cases. The findings give Louisiana residents practical guidance on how to use tap water safely for nasal rinsing and contact lens care.

Health officials have tracked 10 Acanthamoeba infections in Louisiana over the last two years, with most cases involving the eyes. The extraction does not report how each infection was contracted or whether additional cases are under review.

The players

Louisiana Department of Health

The state agency responsible for public health monitoring and disease surveillance across Louisiana, which is tracking the Acanthamoeba cases.

The details

Acanthamoeba is commonly found in tap water, dust and soil, and primarily affects people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of eye infection include pain, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, and severe cases can lead to permanent vision loss.

Over the last two years, state health officials tracked 10 Acanthamoeba infection cases in Louisiana.

Health Landscape

The Louisiana Department of Health's tracking of Acanthamoeba infections reflects routine state disease surveillance of environmental pathogens. The case count is framed against a rare but serious class of waterborne amoeba infections that disproportionately affect people with compromised immunity.

Residents should use distilled, sterile or boiled-and-cooled water for nasal rinsing or neti pots, and use contact lens solution rather than tap water to clean and store lenses. Tap water is still considered safe to drink, according to health officials.

The takeaway

Simple changes in how you handle tap water, especially around your eyes and nose, can meaningfully reduce the risk of a rare but serious amoeba infection.