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Brain-eating amoeba map shows which states have the most cases

usatoday.com • September 18, 2026 • health

Key Points:

Naegleria fowleri, a rare "brain-eating amoeba," has caused at least two recent U.S. infections this summer, including a fatality in Louisiana and severe illness in North Carolina.
The amoeba causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly progressing and usually fatal brain infection linked to warm freshwater exposure.
From 1937 to 2025, the CDC reported 180 cases of Naegleria fowleri infections in the U.S., with Texas and Delaware having the highest number of cases, followed by Florida, Virginia, and California.
The amoeba thrives in warm freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers, infecting people when contaminated water enters the nose, typically during swimming or diving.
To reduce infection risk, experts recommend wearing nose clips or holding the nose when entering freshwater, avoiding digging in shallow water, and keeping the head above water in hot springs.

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