Louisiana health department warns people of improper Neti Pot use

People in Louisiana have been warned of the improper use of Neti pot as a man and a woman in the region have already lost their lives after using Neti pots. A 20-year-old man from St. Bernard Parish and a 51-year-old woman from DeSoto Parish died after using Neti pots containing tap water to wash out their sinuses. Both, the man and the woman, were found infected with a parasite called Naegleria fowleri, which is also called the brain-eating amoeba. Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard confirmed that tap water is safe for drinking but not for irrigating nose. Issuing the warning, Dr. Ratard said, "If you are irrigating, flushing or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a Neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution.” After entering the body through nose, naegleria fowleri cause a brain infection- primary amoebic meningoencephaliti, which has symptoms like fever, nausea, headache and stiff neck swiftly. Loss of balance, confusion, seizures and hallucinations are some other symptoms of the deadly infection, which can lead the victim to death within one in less than two weeks.