brain-eating amoeba

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A Day on the Lake May Have Led to 'Brain-Eating' Infection

Missouri resident hospitalized, linked to rare N. fowleri amoeba found in warm fresh water

(Newser) - A Missouri resident is in the hospital after contracting a rare and deadly "brain-eating" infection, according to state health officials. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in a recent news release that the unidentified patient likely encountered Naegleria fowleri —a microscopic amoeba that can...

SC Boy, 12, Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba

Jaysen Carr died 2 weeks after Fourth of July trip to popular lake

(Newser) - Two weeks after Jaysen Carr spent the Fourth of July swimming and riding on a boat on one of South Carolina's most popular lakes, he was dead from an amoeba that lives in the warm water and entered his brain through his nose. His parents had no clue the...

Using RV Water for Nasal Irrigation Was Fatal Mistake

It caused fatal brain-eating amoeba infection, CDC says

(Newser) - A Texas woman died from the rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri after using contaminated water from an RV for nasal irrigation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC says the previously healthy 71-year-old "developed severe neurologic symptoms including...

Brain-Eating Amoeba Claims Life of Georgia Resident

It's the 3rd death attributed to the amoeba this year

(Newser) - The rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri has claimed another victim, this one in Georgia. The state's Department of Public Health announced the death on Friday without providing much in the way of details: Neither the Georgia resident's name nor age were given, and while the release noted "...

2-Year-Old Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba

Woodrow Bundy likely acquired infection at natural hot spring in Nevada

(Newser) - A 2-year-old boy in Nevada has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba infection, apparently acquired at a local hot spring. Authorities have not named the child, though family members identify him as Woodrow Bundy, per KVVU . He is believed to have contracted the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri , while visiting Ash...

Person Used Tap Water as Sinus Rinse, Probably Fatally

Floridian dies of brain-eating amoeba infection

(Newser) - A person in Florida has died of the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, and health officials say tap water may be to blame. Specifically, "sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water," according to a Florida Department of Health press release. Using a neti pot or similar sinus rinsing device with...

Boy Who Visited Lake Mead Dies From Amoeba Infection

Nevada boy developed symptoms a week after exposure to brain-eating amoeba

(Newser) - The CDC has confirmed that an infection of the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri killed a Nevada boy who may have been exposed at Lake Mead earlier this month, the Southern Nevada Health District says. The Clark County resident's name and age were not released but the Las Vegas Review-Journal...

Officials: Brain-Eating Amoeba Likely Killed Nebraska Boy

Warming waters may be helping parasite spread in Midwest

(Newser) - A child likely died from a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in an eastern Nebraska river, health officials said. It's the second such probable death in the Midwest this summer and one that raises the question of whether climate change is playing a role. The...

Family: Florida Boy Is Fighting Brain-Eating Amoeba

13-year-old Caleb Ziegelbauer 'is fighting his little heart out on the inside'

(Newser) - Only around 3% of people infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba survive, and the family of 13-year-old Caleb Ziegelbauer is praying that he can beat the odds. The Florida teen is fighting for his life at Golisano Children's Hospital in Fort Myers, CBS reports. Relatives say Caleb started hallucinating...

Visitor to Iowa Infected by 'Worst Parasite in the World'

Health officials testing lake in Taylor County after Missouri resident infected by brain-eating amoeba

(Newser) - A lake beach in southwest Iowa has been temporarily shuttered after a visitor from a neighboring state was infected by a rare but dangerous brain-eating amoeba. A Friday release from the Iowa Department of Public Health notes that the beach at Lake of Three Fires State Park is currently off-limits...

3-Year-Old's Death Triggers Big Changes at Splash Pads

As part of settlement, Arlington, Texas to make updates to splash-pad technology

(Newser) - The parents of a 3-year-old boy who died of a brain-eating amoeba contracted at a splash pad in Arlington, Texas, have settled with the city. Tariq Williams and Kayla Mitchell, who initially sought at least $1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, will receive $250,000, which their lawyer said...

Texas Mayor After Child's Death From Amoeba: 'We Screwed Up'

Parents of Bakari Williams sue Arlington for $1M

(Newser) - Update: The parents of a 3-year-old Texas boy who died of a brain-eating amoeba found in water samples from an Arlington splash pad he visited are suing the city. Tariq Williams and Kayla Mitchell are seeking at least $1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence at Don Misenhimer...

Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Kills California Boy

It's only the 10th case in the state since 1971

(Newser) - A young boy in California has died after becoming infected with a brain-eating amoeba while swimming last month. David Pruitt, 7, contracted primary amoebic meningoencephalitis—PAM—from a lake in Tehama County in Northern California, the Los Angeles Times reports. The specific lake hasn't been named. The illness is...

'Brain-Eating Amoeba' Is Moving Northward
'Brain-Eating Amoeba'
Is on the Move
new study
Dec 16, 2020 7:28 PM CST

'Brain-Eating Amoeba' Is on the Move

Climate change may be to blame

(Newser) - Climate change may have sparked a disturbing migration. A new study says infections tied to Naegleria fowleri—or "brain-eating amoeba"—are occurring farther north than they once did, LiveScience reports. The single-celled organism is typically found in warm bodies of freshwater, per Newsweek , making it historically more common...

Brain-Eating Amoeba Seen in State's Water Supply

Several areas near Houston are warned not to use tap water

(Newser) - The brain-eating amoeba that recently turned up in Florida has resurfaced in a Texas town's water supply, KHOU reports. On Friday, Texas environmental officials told residents in several areas near Houston—including Lake Jackson, Brazoria, Richwood, Freeport, Angleton, and Oyster Creek—to stop using tap water, even for bathing,...

Infection That Attacks Brain Reemerges in Florida

State warns swimmers to be careful in warm freshwater

(Newser) - The brain-eating amoeba has resurfaced in Florida. The state's Health Department has confirmed the case, saying only that the patient is in Hillsborough County. Naegleria fowleri usually is found in warm freshwater environments, including ponds, rivers and lakes. The state did not say where the infection was contracted, the...

10-Year-Old Infected by Amoeba During Swim Dies

(Newser) - Lily Mae Avant, a 10-year-old Texas girl who contracted Naegleria fowleri, has died. She has been fighting the brain-eating amoeba in a Fort Worth children's hospital since swimming over Labor Day weekend in the Brazos River and Lake Whitney near Waco. Lily's school announced the fifth grader's...

River Swim Leaves Girl, 10, With Brain-Eating Amoeba

'She's always been a fighter,' family says

(Newser) - After a swim over the holiday weekend in the Brazos River in Texas, Lily Mae Avant developed a headache and fever. Her family took her to a doctor, but she only got worse, CNN reports. "She was incoherent, unresponsive," her family said, so she was taken to an...

Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills Visitor to Water Park

Risk of infection is highest during heat waves

(Newser) - A visitor to a water park in North Carolina has died after developing an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. A public health alert has been issued. Eddie Gray, of Guilford County, had gone to Fantasy Lake Water Park in Cumberland County, near Fort Bragg, earlier this month....

Woman Uses Neti Pot, Ends Up With Brain-Eating Amoeba

She used filtered tap water

(Newser) - Dr. Charles Cobbs, a neurosurgeon in Seattle, thought the woman had a brain tumor. A CT scan had revealed a 1.5-centimeter lesion and the 69-year-old had a history of cancer. But when Cobbs operated, he discovered something much more disturbing. “It was just dead brain tissue,” he...

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