An amoeba that destroys brain tissue has been confirmed in an unidentified person in Hillsborough County, the county department of health announced Friday.
The Naples Daily News reports that the ameoba is a microscopic single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri.
It can cause a rare infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis that destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal. The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, ponds and canals, and enters the body through the nose.
Infections usually occur when temperatures increase for prolonged periods, which results in higher water temperatures and lower water levels.
According to The Florida Department of Health, there have been 37 cases in Florida since 1962.