Burlington family seeks source of rare brain-eating amoeba infection after teen's death
A 17-year-old from Burlington died of a rare brain-eating amoeba, and his family is urging health officials to identify the source of exposure.
A 17-year-old from Burlington, North Carolina, died on Monday after being diagnosed with a rare brain-eating amoeba, a condition that affects fewer than ten people in the United States each year. The teenager was initially treated at Alamance Regional Medical Center, released with medication, and later transferred to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill when his condition worsened, ultimately leading to his death.
"How am I going to live with this void? I come home, and he's not there," said his mother, Monica Mendoza, speaking to a Univision report.
Family members described the teen's love of soccer and time spent with friends, and his brother, Elmer Aguilar Mendoza, recalled the loss, saying he wishes he could hug his brother again.
"Please, pay close attention and do your part to find where this came from so we can protect everyone else," Mendoza added, urging officials to locate the source of the infection.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that investigators have not yet identified a likely exposure site and that the inquiry remains ongoing.