Pathologists: 3rd Boy Died From Waterborne Amoeba

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A medical examiner warned in July that a waterborne amoeba disease had likely killed a Central Florida boy, but health officials did not disclose the death in their public swimming alert, a Local 6 investigation revealed.
Two independent pathologists investigating the death of the first of three victims who contracted a fatal infection agreed that the 14-year-old died from a waterborne amoeba, Local 6 learned Thursday.
The medical examiner performed an autopsy on Angel Arroyo, 14, in June.
A month later it was confirmed that Arroyo died from meningitis and the medical examiner said possibly from an amoeba.
The medical examiner said she then warned the Orange County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the findings -- weeks before the first fatal case of amoebic encephalitis was confirmed in Central Florida, WKMG reported.
The case was reported after WKMG's Erik von Ancken asked about the possibility of a new case.
"We had not linked the amoeba on the slide to the death or encephalitis," Orange County Health Department representative Dr. Kevin Sherin said.
"But you knew there was a possibility?" von Ancken asked.
"We knew there was a possibility?" Sherin said.
"So, why not just put it out there?" von Ancken said.
"Well, we did by way of information to inform the public by way of media," Sherin said.
The health department warning was issued in July, but there was no mention of the death.
Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty said the death should have been mentioned if it was possible.
"If there was increased public awareness about an event that may have taken place in Orange County, that may have saved a life and that is exactly what we are trying to do," Crotty said.
"We did warn," Sherin said. "We have a duty to warn and we felt we delivered the duty to warn (and deliver) the information to the public."
The third case still needs to be confirmed by the CDC, which should take about a week.

Second Victim Swam In Different Lakes

Meanwhile, Orange County Health Department officials reported Wednesday that Richard Almeida, 10, of Kissimmee died from a rare amoebic illness. Richard was the second boy confirmed to have contracted the illness after swimming in a lake.
"It now has happened twice in Central Florida this year," a health official said. "And therefore, we need to ramp up the precautions for using nose plugs and taking all precautions when swimming in the lakes and doing water sports."
The Orange County Health Department did not identify the lake where Richard contracted the amoeba.
However, the owner of the Orlando Water Sports Complex said he was contacted by the Orange County Health Department and told to post signs warning of the deadly amoeba. The victim was believed to have visited the popular park.
Officials said the boy had been participating in water events in several lakes recently.