AI Generated Image
North Carolina teen critically ill from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater, officials say
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • health
Key Points:
- A North Carolina teenager is critically ill from a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, which is found in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes, and rivers.
- The disease progresses rapidly after symptoms begin and usually causes death within about five days, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
- Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose during activities like jumping into water, diving, or water-skiing; swallowing the amoeba does not cause illness.
- The U.S. typically reports fewer than 10 cases annually of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), the disease caused by Naegleria fowleri.
- Earlier this month, an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died from the same infection, likely contracted while swimming in a lake.
