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NC teen dies after getting a brain-eating amoeba
WRAL • • health
Key Points:
- A North Carolina teenager died on August 31 from a rare brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
- Naegleria fowleri is naturally found in warm freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, and rivers.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe the infection as rare but almost always fatal when the amoeba enters the brain through the nose.
- NCDHHS advises people to hold their nose or keep their head above water when swimming in warm freshwater, especially in late summer, and to avoid jumping or diving during periods of high water temperatures and low water levels.
- To protect the family's privacy, NCDHHS will not release any additional information about the case.
