CDC Warns: Use Safe Water in Neti Pots to Prevent Deadly Infections

A new CDC report highlights the public health risks of improper nasal irrigation, following the tragic death of a 71-year-old woman from a rare brain infection after using tap water in a neti pot. The woman contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a typically fatal infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, after using an RV water system at a Texas campground.

The FDA and CDC stress that only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water should be used in neti pots or similar devices. This case underscores the importance of educating the public on safe practices for home health remedies to prevent avoidable infections. Read CDC’s MMWR report here.