Officials believe the unnamed Charlotte County man died after rinsing his sinuses using tap water contaminated with the microscopic pathogen.

Dr Mobeen Rathore, an infectious disease expert from the University of Florida, told DailyMail.com residents in the county should avoid exposing their nose to tap water – including while showering – until ‘officials give the all clear’.

‘Unless it’s cleared [by local health authorities] you should avoid any water going into the nose — at least for now. ‘In the shower, avoid getting anything into the nose.’

His comments were echoed by Dr Anjan Debnath, a pararsite expert at the University of California, San Diego.