North Carolina teen hospitalized with rare Naegleria fowleri infection

A teenager in central North Carolina has been hospitalized in critical condition after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that inhabits warm freshwater, the state Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday. The patient’s identity has not been released, and details about the condition were not disclosed, but officials noted that once symptoms appear, the disease progresses quickly and often leads to death within about five days.

"The amoeba does not cause illness if swallowed but can be fatal if water with the amoeba in it is forced up the nose into the brain, which can occur by jumping into water, diving, water-skiing or other water activities," the department said. The agency is investigating how the teen was exposed. Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm ponds, lakes and rivers, especially in hotter water. The United States typically records fewer than ten cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) each year. Early symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting and fever, followed by stiff neck, seizures and coma. The report follows a recent fatal case involving an eight-year-old girl in Louisiana who likely contracted the amoeba while swimming in a lake.