The Department of Health says a deadly amoeba has been found in a Charlotte County home.

CHARLOTT COUNTY, Florida. The Florida Department of Health found a deadly amoeba in a Charlotte County home, the agency said Friday morning. It comes two weeks after the CDC confirmed that the Charlotte County resident died on Feb. 20.

The Ministry of Health reports that the results of laboratory tests have identified the place where the amoeba could have become infected.

“The results found the amoeba only in a private home during testing,” the Ministry of Health said in a press release.

It is not clear in whose house it was found, in the victim’s house or in the house of another resident. Officials also didn’t say what else they were testing. The CDC reports that the deceased man flushed his sinuses daily with unboiled tap water.

Infection with Nagleria fowleri is usually associated with swimming in freshwater lakes and rivers, but can also be found in tap water.

“At this time, there is no indication that the amoeba poses any further threat to society,” the statement said. “Investigations will continue to further ensure water safety.”

On March 8, Charlotte County Public Utilities, in conjunction with the Peace River Regional Water Authority in Manasota, announced a temporary change to the drinking water disinfection process.

The change is valid from March 15, 2023 to May 14, 2023. Water disinfection will be carried out with free chlorine, not chlorine combined with ammonia (chloramines). This conversion of chloramines to free chlorine allows the utility to clean the distribution system in accordance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection guidelines for water utilities using chloramines as their primary disinfectant.

However, officials did not say if it was directly related to the amoeba.

On March 9, the designated counties were due to provide an update on water quality during a budget meeting. In the middle of the meeting, they removed the issue of water quality from the agenda, saying it was a mistake to add it.

“DOH-Charlotte, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), utilities and community partners continue to coordinate and take protective actions to mitigate any potential risk,” the statement said.

Nagleria fowleri is extremely rare and can only infect people through the nose and not by ingestion.