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NC teen dead from brain-eating amoeba 'most likely' infected in Durham
WXII • • health
Key Points:
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified a community-based organization in Durham, El Futuro, as the most likely source of a fatal Naegleria fowleri infection in a teen who died in August.
- Investigations found non-viable Naegleria fowleri in water samples from a manmade creek water feature at El Futuro, which had visible algal growth and inadequate disinfection.
- The teen likely contracted the infection by splashing water on their face at the facility, consistent with family reports and the amoeba’s mode of infection through nasal passages.
- Naegleria fowleri infections occur when contaminated water enters the nose, often during water-related activities, but not through swallowing water.
- The teen was critically ill on August 28 and passed away shortly after; their identity remains private at the family’s request.
