North Carolina teen dies after infection with rare freshwater amoeba
A teenager in North Carolina died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba found in warm freshwater, officials said.
A North Carolina teenager died on Monday after becoming infected with Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes and rivers, the state Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported on Tuesday. The department said the patient’s identity was not released and that the disease progresses rapidly once symptoms appear, typically leading to death within about five days.
"We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss," the department said in a statement.
NCDHHS noted that the amoeba does not cause illness when swallowed but can be fatal if water containing it is forced up the nose during activities like diving, jumping into water or water-skiing. Early symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting and fever, followed by stiff neck, seizures and coma.
The agency is working with federal and local partners to investigate possible sources of the infection. Naegleria fowleri infections are rare in the United States, with fewer than ten cases reported annually. A similar fatal case involving an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana was reported in August.