Waterpark Says Algae Problems Contributed To Local Teen's Fatal Infection

The U.S. National Whitewater Center say algae in its artificial whitewater course weakened the effectiveness of its filters to disinfect waterborne illnesses, such as the brain-eating amoeba that killed a central Ohio teen.  The center's response to questions submitted by The Charlotte Observer comes in the case of Lauren Seitz, who contracted the amoeba and died after rafting at the facility.  At the time, center officials say its disinfectant system was "99.99" percent effective against the organism. Park spokeperson Eric Osterhus says authorities are asking water quality experts how to contain algae that built up in the water channels. Osterhus says algae does create an environment that allows organic matter to grow and avoid the existing disinfection systems. Seitz contracted primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is typically found in warm bodies of freshwater such as rivers and lakes and enters the human body through the nose.