Officials Find Brain-Eating Amoeba in Drinking Water

LAKE JACKSON, TX – After a 6-year-old boy died after ingesting a brain-eating amoeba, Governor Abbott has issued a disaster for Brazoria County's drinking water.

In early September Lake Jackson officials became aware the child had been hospitalized with the amoeba.

Nearly 50 percent of the city's water comes from the Brazosport Water Authority. The other half of the water supply comes from wells.

Currently, officials are working to pinpoint the problem, but the Brazosport Water Authority has been taken out of the equation.

Governor Greg Abbot Disaster Declaration | September 27, 2020

WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the presence of Naegleria fowleri, which can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, was identified in three of 11 tests of the water supply, posing an imminent threat to public health and safety, including loss of life, in Brazoria County.

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby declare a state of disaster in the previously listed county based on the existence of such threat.

Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.

Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for the conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. 

However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.

In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 27th day of September 2020.