Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana
Summary
An eight-year-old girl from Louisiana died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, likely from swimming in Lake Claiborne. The infection is very rare, almost always fatal, and usually happens when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose.Key Facts
- The girl, Lillian Smart from Ruston, Louisiana, died one day after her eighth birthday.
- She was hospitalized since August 15 and infected after swimming in Lake Claiborne.
- The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the infection on August 19.
- Naegleria fowleri infections are extremely rare and almost always fatal.
- The amoeba lives in warm freshwater like lakes, rivers, and ponds, mostly in southern U.S. states during summer.
- The infection happens when contaminated water enters the nose; swallowing contaminated water does not cause infection.
- It causes a brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis.
- The climate crisis is causing the amoeba to appear in more parts of the U.S. where it was not common before.
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