Ruston girl dies after brain-eating amoeba infection
An 8-year-old girl from Louisiana has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare and typically fatal brain-eating amoeba. Health officials believe she was infected while swimming in a local lake.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the rare but severe health risks associated with warm freshwater environments during summer months.
An 8-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare, brain-eating amoeba. Lillian Smart of Ruston, Louisiana, died Saturday, a day after her birthday. She possibly contracted the infection during a recent swim at Lake Claiborne. In a statement on social media, her family stated: "Her brain injuries were too severe for her to recover from." Her family confirmed her passing in a statement on Facebook. "Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here. We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next. How do we put one foot in front of the other without our girl? Our foundation is still in Jesus.
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