Yucatán health officials fine company over amoeba contamination

The Secretary of Health of Yucatán, Miguel Alberto Alcocer Gamboa, announced that the service provider for the artificial lake at the La Isla shopping plaza in Mérida will face a fine exceeding 1.7 million pesos. This follows the confirmation of contamination by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.”

A total of 361 people were exposed to the contaminated water, 80 percent of whom were minors. Currently, approximately 180 individuals remain under epidemiological surveillance until October 4. Health officials noted that no one has presented symptoms of primary amebic meningoencephalitis so far, and the risk is considered lower due to the time elapsed since exposure.

The company may be fined up to 15,000 Units of Measure and Update (UMA), totaling approximately 1,759,000 pesos, in addition to other environmental and epidemiological sanctions. The company is responsible for determining the final disposal of the contaminated water.