Louisiana resident infected with brain-eating amoeba

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed that a resident in Claiborne Parish has been infected with Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism commonly known as the ‘brain-eating amoeba.’ Officials believe the infection likely occurred while the individual was swimming in Lake Claiborne.

Naegleria fowleri lives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), occurs when contaminated water enters the body through the nose, allowing the organism to travel to the brain. While the infection is extremely rare, it is nearly always fatal, with mortality rates estimated between 95 and 99 percent.

Health officials emphasize that the amoeba cannot infect humans if swallowed and is not spread from person to person. It is also not found in salt water or properly maintained, chlorinated pools. Experts note that rising global temperatures may increase the prevalence of the organism in warm freshwater bodies.