Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana
An eight-year-old girl from Louisiana has died after contracting a rare, fatal brain-eating amoeba, likely from swimming in a local lake. Health officials confirmed the infection, which is extremely rare but almost always fatal.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the rare but severe health risks associated with warm-water recreational activities in certain regions.
Lillian Smart, an eight-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana. Photograph: Love for Lillian Smart/Facebook Lillian Smart, an eight-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana. Photograph: Love for Lillian Smart/Facebook Louisiana Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri , likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say
Prefer the Guardian on Google An eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne.
Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in a public Facebook post on the “Love for Lillian” page .
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