[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [HEALTH]

3 clusters · 90 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated

Naegleria fowleri infection in Louisiana

Overview

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed an infection of Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism known as the ‘brain-eating amoeba,’ in a resident of Claiborne Parish. Officials indicated the infection likely occurred during swimming in Lake Claiborne.

Following the initial report, it was confirmed that an eight-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, named Lillian Smart, died from the infection. Her family reported that she passed away on a Saturday, just one day after celebrating her eighth birthday. The child had been hospitalized since August 15. Her family confirmed her passing, noting that the brain injuries were too severe for her body to recover from. Before her death, she had presented with fever and fatigue, which progressed to neurological symptoms including double vision and severe brain swelling.

Health officials noted that the infection is not transmitted person-to-person and cannot be contracted by swallowing water. It causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a condition that occurs when contaminated warm freshwater is inhaled through the nose, leading to significant brain swelling. While extremely rare, the infection is nearly always fatal, with an estimated mortality rate of 95 to 99 percent.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been approximately 173 to 180 cases of Naegleria fowleri in the United States since 1937. The Louisiana Department of Health noted that this marks the first confirmed case in the state since 2013. Experts have noted that rising water temperatures due to climate change may contribute to the spread of these organisms into new geographic regions. In Ruston, local businesses have organized donations to support the Smart family.

Entities

Naegleria fowleri · Lake Claiborne · Louisiana Department of Health · Jeff Landry · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [HEALTH] 10 sources
    Louisiana girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died from a Naegleria fowleri infection, likely contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne. The rare, nearly always fatal amoeba enters the body through the nose.

  2. 3 days ago

    [HEALTH] 74 sources
    Louisiana 8-year-old dies from brain-eating amoeba infection

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died from a rare Naegleria fowleri infection, likely contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne.

  3. 8 days ago

    [HEALTH] 10 sources
    Louisiana resident infected with brain-eating amoeba

    A resident in North Louisiana has been infected with Naegleria fowleri, a rare and nearly always fatal brain-eating amoeba, likely contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne.

Sources

107jamz.com · 20minutos.com.mx · 20minutos.es · 7news.com.au · abendblatt.de · affaritaliani.it · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · archive.in.gr · ascendwrestling.com · atvbl.rs · aufeminin.com · bild.de · bimbisaniebelli.it · blick.ch · br.paipee.com · brasil.perfil.com · brasil247.com · canaledieci.it · cbsnews.com · celebritynews.eu · demagog.cz · deutschlandsuchtdensuperstar.de · dimokratia.gr · doctorulzilei.ro · dominicanaaldia.com · duurzaamnieuws.nl · elbuentono.com.mx · elcomercio.pe · elfrontal.com · es.gizmodo.com · espreso.co.rs · expreso.press · fanpage.it · fortune.com · foxweather.com · greenme.it · gulfnews.com · hna.de · hsou.org · ibtimes.com.au · ikz-online.de · index.hr · internewscast.com · it-boltwise.de · k945.com · koktejl.azet.sk · kpel965.com · laopinion.com

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history