Louisiana Girl Dies from Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection

An eight-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes a severe brain infection, health authorities confirmed.

The organism is found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and poorly maintained swimming pools. Infection usually occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain. The resulting primary amoebic meningoencephalitis progresses rapidly and is fatal in the large majority of documented cases.

Public health officials have not released details of the specific water source involved while the investigation continues. They reiterated standard advice: avoid diving or submerging the head in warm freshwater during periods of high temperature, and use nose clips if swimming in such environments.

Although infections are exceedingly rare—typically only a handful of cases are reported in the United States each year—the high mortality rate keeps the organism under close surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Local authorities are monitoring water quality at popular recreational sites as a precaution.