NC teen has rare brain infection likely caused by swimming. Where did exposure happen? Are you safe?

Key Points:

• A Central North Carolina teenager is critically ill with a rare brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which is found in warm freshwater, but authorities have not yet identified the exposure source or whether the water is still in use.
• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is collaborating with the CDC and local health departments to investigate the case, emphasizing that the amoeba cannot be eliminated from natural environments and testing water for it is complex and costly.
• Researchers at UNC are working on developing a faster, cheaper test for Naegleria fowleri to better detect its presence and help public health efforts, though current methods are not part of routine water surveillance.
• Families affected by the infection, such as that of 6-year-old Aven Moffat who died in 2021, stress the importance of public education about the risk, as many people are unaware of the amoeba and how to prevent infection.
• Health officials recommend swimmers avoid getting freshwater in their noses by using nose clips, avoiding diving into warm, shallow water, and not stirring up sediment, since infection occurs only when contaminated water enters the nose.