The brain eating amoeba called as Naegleria fowleri has been blamed for taking three lives so far in the United States. Health officials in Louisiana are keeping a strict observation on two water systems that have tested positive for the parasite.

As per experts, this lethal amoeba is found generally n fresh water, such as lakes and rivers, but they can also be found in sediments. As per health officials one cannot get infected after drinking the contaminated water, but they cautioned that one can get sick if the water goes up your nose and the amoeba reaches the brain.

Dr. Jonathan Yoder an epidemiologist at the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “It can be forced up the nose, cross into the brain and begin to destroy brain tissue, unfortunately leading to death within a very short period of time”.

As per experts, infections caused due to amoeba are rare but are always fatal. Symptoms start off similar to many other, more common illnesses, such as bacterial meningitis, and include fever, headache, stiff neck, and vomiting.

Experts are urging people to seek medical attention immediately if they're experiencing these symptoms, particularly if they have been in warm fresh water recently.

Officials said that cases of the deadly amoeba have become widespread media attention, but the threat is extremely remote. Only 35 cases were documented between 2005 and 2014.

For its treatment in some recent years, a new drug helped two people survive the devastating infection.

If one is worried about infection then one should avoid swimming in water that is warm and untreated or if they go swimming they might decide not to put their head under water, said Yoder.