After 8-year-old died of brain-eating amoeba, here's who is most at risk - USA Today
Following the tragic death of an 8-year-old girl from a brain-eating amoeba, health experts are providing guidance on risks associated with freshwater swimming. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is rare but fatal if it enters the nasal cavity.
Why it matters
Public health awareness regarding rare but deadly environmental pathogens is critical for safety during summer recreational activities.
Hear this story An 8-year-old Louisiana girl recently died from a brain-eating amoeba after swimming. Now, families are left wondering whether this could happen to their loved ones.
Lillian Smart of Ruston died Aug. 22, her family said in a public Facebook post on the "Love for Lillian" page, writing that the "injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from."
The Louisiana Department of Health reported Aug. 19 that it had confirmed a case of Naegleria fowleri , often referred to as a brain-eating amoeba, which she probably contracted while she was swimming in Lake Claiborne. The infection is almost always fatal.
Here's what to know about the amoeba and how to protect yourself.
Naegleria fowleri is commonly found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals and ponds throughout the United States. It is not found in saltwater or in properly maintained and chlorinated pools.
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