Director Public Health Tracey Oakman warned people with their own tank, dam or bore water supply such as on farms are at risk of an amoeba called Naegleri fowleri.

“Naegleria infects people by entering the body when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose,” she said.

“This may occur when people swim, dive or fall into warm unchlorinated water containing Naegleria, or when children play under sprinklers or with hoses using this water.”

Ms Oakman said the amoebae travel up the nose to the brain where they infect and destroy brain tissue.

“If water contaminated with Naegleria fowleri does go up the nose the chance of contracting infection is still extremely small,” she said.

Fortunately the incidence is rare but .. children and young adults appear to be more susceptible to infection than older adults.”

The organism grows best in warm water and a risk typically occurs when temperatures continually exceeds 25 degrees Celsius or seasonally exceeds 30 degrees Celsius.

The best way to prevent infection is: