- An 8-year-old Louisiana girl died from a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri
- Lillian Smart contracted the amoeba after swimming in Lake Claiborne near Ruston, Louisiana
- Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and usually fatal brain infection
An 8-year-old Louisiana girl has died after she contracted a rare and usually fatal brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri while swimming in a local lake, Guardian reported. Lillian Smart died on Saturday at a hospital in Ruston, just a day after celebrating her eighth birthday. She had been receiving treatment at the hospital since August 15.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on August 19 that a state resident had tested positive for Naegleria fowleri, with officials saying the infection was most likely linked to swimming in Lake Claiborne in Claiborne Parish, about 30 miles northwest of Ruston. Several local media outlets later identified the child as Lillian.
"Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here. We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next. How do we put one foot in front of the other without our girl?" her family wrote, confirming her death on Facebook.
The family earlier wrote Lillian had experienced significant brain swelling "as a result of the parasite."
A fundraiser, "Love for Lilian", was held on August 21 to celebrate her eighth birthday.
About Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba that lives in warm freshwater. It can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, a rare infection in which contaminated water enters the body through the nose and the amoeba travels to the brain.
The infection cannot occur from swallowing contaminated water and does not spread from person to person. The amoeba is also not found in saltwater or properly maintained, chlorinated swimming pools.
Early symptoms of PAM can include severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. The illness can quickly progress to a stiff neck, seizures, confusion and coma. Symptoms generally begin around five days after exposure, although they can appear anywhere from one to 12 days later.
The infection is extremely rare but has a very high fatality rate. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 97% of people who develop PAM die from the disease.
The CDC has recorded only around 180 cases of Naegleria fowleri infection in the US since 1937. Louisiana has reported only a handful of cases in recent years, with state health department records showing three previous deaths linked to the amoeba since 2011, reported Fox News.
Health officials said there is no routine environmental testing for Naegleria fowleri in US bodies of water, making it difficult to identify its presence before exposure occurs.
