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Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills NC Teen
1 Sep
Summary
- A North Carolina teen has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba.
- Naegleria fowleri infection is almost always fatal, with few survivors.
- Preventative measures include keeping water out of the nose.
A North Carolina teenager has succumbed to an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a dangerous amoeba found in warm freshwater. This rare and aggressive pathogen enters the brain through the nose, leading to severe swelling and tissue destruction. The infection is exceedingly rare, with fewer than 10 cases annually in the U.S., but it carries an almost invariably fatal outcome. Between 1962 and 2024, only four individuals out of 167 reported cases in the U.S. survived.
This unfortunate incident follows closely on the heels of an 8-year-old girl's death from a similar infection in Louisiana. State health officials emphasize that while these infections are uncommon, the amoeba is present nationwide. They strongly advise individuals to take precautions when swimming in warm freshwater, such as preventing water from entering the nose and avoiding submerging the head. Using only distilled or boiled tap water for nasal rinsing is also recommended, as the amoeba has been found in tap water, as evidenced by a fatality in Texas last year.
The amoeba thrives in water temperatures up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and infections are most frequently reported in southern U.S. states during July and August. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is collaborating with the CDC and local health departments to investigate the source of the infection.
