Brain Eating Amoeba US Map: Historical Data Shows States Impacted
Summary
A teenager in North Carolina is critically ill from a rare brain infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This infection, while very uncommon, has appeared in multiple U.S. states over many years, mainly in the southern states, and is almost always fatal.Key Facts
- The brain infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism found in warm freshwater like lakes and ponds.
- Infection happens when contaminated water enters the nose, often during swimming or diving.
- The infection, called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), destroys brain tissue and causes severe inflammation.
- Since 1937, 173 cases in the U.S. have been linked to Naegleria fowleri exposure; most cases are in southern states like Texas and Florida.
- Texas has had 40 cases, Florida 37, and Virginia 18; infections have also been reported in northern states.
- The CDC reports fewer than 10 cases yearly in the U.S., with only four known survivors since 1962.
- Most infections happen in males aged 10 to 14, especially in July and August when water is warmest.
- The North Carolina case follows a recent death of an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana from the same infection.
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