8-year-old girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection in Louisiana
Summary
An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died after being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The infection likely happened while she was swimming in a local lake, and such infections are very rare but usually fatal.Key Facts
- The girl’s name was Lillian Smart; she died over the weekend from the infection.
- Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba found in warm freshwater like lakes and ponds.
- The amoeba infects people when water enters the nose and reaches the brain.
- Infections are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 cases per year in the U.S.
- The infection causes a disease called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is almost always fatal.
- The last confirmed case in Louisiana was in 2013 before Lillian’s infection.
- To reduce risk, people are advised to hold their nose or use a nose clip when swimming in warm freshwater.
- Symptoms of infection include headache, fever, nausea, neck stiffness, and seizures.
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