Child Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection in Louisiana
An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died from an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. The infection likely occurred while swimming in Lake Claiborne, north Louisiana.
Denver, CO, August 24, 2026 —
An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died from a rare and typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba.
Health officials believe the infection occurred when the child was swimming in Lake Claiborne, located in north Louisiana. Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic single-celled ameba found in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It can cause a primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a devastating brain infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that PAM is extremely rare, with only 37 known cases in the United States from 2013 to 2022. However, infections are almost always fatal. The amoeba enters the brain through the nose, typically when a person is swimming or diving in contaminated warm freshwater. Once inside, it destroys brain tissue.
Symptoms of PAM can appear within one to nine days after exposure and may include severe headache, fever, stiff neck, and vomiting. As the infection progresses, it can lead to confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. Death usually occurs within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin.
While the exact circumstances of the Louisiana child’s exposure are still under investigation, the reported location of swimming in Lake Claiborne points to a likely source. Officials often advise caution when swimming in warm freshwater during the summer months, recommending that people avoid submerging their heads or holding their noses while jumping into the water. Rinsing the nose with clean water after swimming is also suggested.
The contractor’s name was not provided. The fine amount was not provided. The permit status was not provided. The inspection outcomes were not provided. The code violations were not provided. Further details on the timeline of the illness and the specific treatment attempts were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.denver7.com, see more information here.
