Waco-McLennan County Public Health District Kelly Craine, Public Health Information Specialist 225 W. Waco Drive, Waco, Texas 76707 Phone 254-750-5429 Fax 254-750-5452 kellyc@wacotx.gov City of Bellmead City of Beverly Hills Health District Receives Laboratory Results from Environmental Assessment, Recommends Water Quality Management Plan City of Bruceville-Eddy City of Crawford City of Gholson City of Golinda City of Hallsburg City of Hewitt City of Lacy-Lakeview Waco, Texas (October 12, 2018) – Results of environmental sampling conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District (WMCPHD) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) found evidence of Naegleria fowleri, a free-living ameba (single celled organism) that causes Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis, a rare and devastating brain infection with an over 97% fatality rate at the BSR Cable Park and Surf Resort (BSR). A New Jersey resident who had visited BSR this summer died after contracting the disease. Epidemiologic and environmental assessment indicate that exposure likely occurred at this facility. City of Leroy City of Lorena City of Mart City of McGregor City of Moody N. fowleri was identified in the Cable Park but not specifically found in the Surf Resort, Lazy River, or the Royal Flush on the day of sampling. Although the N. fowleri was not detected in the Surf Resort, Lazy River, or the Royal Flush, the presence of fecal indicator organisms, high turbidity, low free chlorine levels, and other ameba that occur along with N. fowleri indicate conditions favorable for N. fowleri growth. For additional information, refer to the attached Environmental Microbiology Laboratory report. City of Riesel City of Robinson City of Ross City of Waco City of West City of Woodway McLennan County The BSR water venues known as the Surf Resort, Lazy River, and the Royal Flush are currently closed and will not re-open without consultation with the WMCPHD and not before all health and safety issues have been addressed and mitigated appropriately. The Cable Park may remain open to the general public because the risk of exposure to N. fowleri is considered the same as any other natural bodies of freshwater and is not amenable to treatment. WMCPHD is working with the owner who is consulting with water treatment experts to evaluate the situation and develop a comprehensive water quality management plan to include current regulatory requirements. The mission of the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is to protect public health and safety. We appreciate the cooperation and assistance from the CDC and DSHS and will continue working diligently to address the issues raised by the report. ### U.S Department of Health and Human Services National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd, MS E-10 Atlanta, GA 30333 (404)639-8120 Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Report Lab Contact Name: Telephone Number: Email: Mia Mattioli, PhD, Environmental Engineer 404-718-5643 kuk9@cdc.gov Centers for Disease Control 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 800-232-4636 Sample Identifiers Location: BSR Cable Park, Waco, TX Description: Environmental sampling during on-site assessment of the water bodies associated with a confirmed case of primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri Local Contact: Vaidehi Shah, Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, 254-750-5775, VaidehiS@wacotx.gov Report Issue Date: October 11, 2018 Sample Collection Date: September 27, 2018 Sample Receipt Date(s) and Notes: September 28, 2018 Summary of Findings: The environmental sample results, including physical and chemical water quality and biological test results, are described in Table 1. Naegleria fowleri was detected in the large-volume ultrafiltration water sample and sediment sample collected at the Cable Park where the drain from the Lil’ Bro enters the Cable Park pond. Viable thermophilic ameba were detected in samples collected from the reservoir, Surf Resort, Royal Flush, and Cable Park, and are pending analyses for identification. A free chlorine residual was not detectable in the reportedly treated Surf Resort or Lazy River. The turbidity of the Surf Resort, Lazy River, Royal Flush, and reservoir were 558, 20.6, 5.31, and 2.36 NTU, respectively (as reference, the EPA drinking water treatment standard is 0.5 NTU). Total coliform and enterococci were detected in the reportedly treated reservoir water (as reference, the EPA drinking water treatment standard is <1 total coliform MPN/100 ml). Total coliforms were detected in the Royal Flush and Lazy River water, and enterococci were detected in the Surf Resort water. The presence of fecal indicator organisms (total coliforms, enterococci), viable thermophilic ameba, and high turbidity indicate a treatment failure, and when the water is warm, would create conditions amenable to Naegleria fowleri growth. Detection of Naegleria fowleri on the property indicates the potential for the ameba to enter other surface water bodies on the property through various routes (i.e., soil, run-off, person transfer, etc.). The unprotected surface water reservoir supplying the water bodies is susceptible to soil intrusion and warm water through radiant heating. Moreover, the reservoir is supplied by ground water; studies have shown ground water can contain Naegleria fowleri (Bright and Gerba 2017)*. Report authorized by: ____________________________ Date: _________________________ [Signatures may be handwritten or electronic] *Bright, K.R. & Gerba, C.P. Hydrogeol J (2017) 25: 953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1582-4 The results listed within the report relate only to the samples received on the dates indicated. This report must not be reproduced, except in full, without written approval from CDC WDPB Chief, Vince Hill, PhD. Page 1 of 2 CDC Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Report Table 1. Environmental sample results including physical and chemical water quality and biological test results. Sample Types Collected at Water Body1 Physical Water Quality Parameters Total Coliforms2 (MPN/100 ml) E. coli2 (MPN/100 ml) Enterococci2 (MPN/100 ml) Ameba Culture Results3 Naegleria fowleri Results3 Reservoir GPS: N31.627822, W97.006836 Ultrafiltration Grab Sediment Total Chlorine = 0.03 mg/L Free Chlorine = 0.05 mg/L Temperature = 27.6 ℃ pH = 9.15 Turbidity = 2.36 NTU Conductivity = 1219 µS/cm Total Dissolved Solids = 868 ppm 686.7 <1 2.0 Detected in sediment Non-detect Surf Resort GPS: N31.621139,W97.003853 Ultrafiltration Grab Sediment4 Surface Swab4 Total Chlorine = 1.03 mg/L Free Chlorine = <0.02 mg/L Temperature = 24.7 ℃ pH = 9.31 Turbidity = 558 NTU Conductivity = 1644 µS/cm Total Dissolved Solids = 1170 ppm <1 <1 2.0 Detected in ultrafiltered water and sediment opposite cement wall center Non-detect Ultrafiltration Grab Sediment5 Surface Swab Total Chlorine = >2.20 mg/L Free Chlorine = 1.77 mg/L Temperature = 25.3 ℃ pH = 8.79 Turbidity = 5.31 NTU Conductivity = 1610 µS/cm Total Dissolved Solids = 1140 ppm 1.0 <1 <1 Detected in sediment Non-detect Ultrafiltration Grab Surface Swab Total Chlorine = 0.25 mg/L Free Chlorine = <0.02 mg/L Temperature = 27.0 ℃ pH = 8.98 Turbidity = 20.6 NTU Conductivity = 355 µS/cm Total Dissolved Solids = 267 ppm 1.0 <1 <1 Non-detect Non-detect Ultrafiltration Grab Sediment6 Surface Swab6 Total Chlorine = <0.02 mg/L Free Chlorine = <0.02 mg/L Temperature = 29.0 ℃ pH = 8.83 Turbidity = 45.0 NTU Conductivity = 1252 µS/cm Total Dissolved Solids = 891 ppm 101.4 Detected in sediment, ultrafiltered water, and swab Detected in sediment and ultrafiltered water Water Body Description Royal Flush GPS: N31.619690, W97.004617 Lazy River GPS: N31.619915,W97.003425 Cable Park GPS: N31.618805,W97.003442 1732.9 1.0 1 Ultrafiltration samples were 50 L volumes, except at Surf Resort where only 10 L filtered due to clogging. Measured using EPA standard methods, IDEXX Colilert-18 or Enterolert, on 100 ml grab samples. MPN: most probable number 3 Naegleria fowleri was tested for using both direct Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction molecular assays (PCR) and culture-based assays followed by PCR confirmation of presumptive positive cultures by epi-fluorescence microscope. Non-Naegleria fowleri viable thermophilic detected are pending identification via 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing. 4 Sediment was collected at two sites in the Surf Resort: 1) beach opposite center of cement wall (GPS coordinates given); and 2) adjacent to south end of cement wall. Surface swabs of cement wall were collect at two sites in the Surf Resort: 1) center of cement wall; and 2) at intersection of sand and PVC lining on north end of cement wall. 5 Sediment at Royal Flush was collected from sand ‘beach’ adjacent to slide. 6 Sediment at Cable Park was collected within Cable Park pond adjacent to Lil’Bro pond input. Surface swab at Cable Park collected from pebble/cement wall drain from Lil’ Bro pond, 2 This report must not be reproduced, except in full, without written approval from CDC WDPB Chief, Vince Hill, PhD. Page 2 of 2