Family of boy who died from brain-eating amoeba speaks out: 'Unimaginable'
Jaysen Carr died on July 18 after developing an infection from the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, the statement shared by Bailey Law Firm said.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY on July 23 that a person died after being exposed to the amoeba earlier in July.
Prisma Health Children's Hospital Midlands confirmed on July 22 that the person was treated at the facility but did not publicly identify the person.
"The Carr family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love from the community and for the dedicated care provided by the doctors and nurses at Prisma Health Children's Hospital in the Midlands," the statement said.
Brain-eating amoeba victim was 'bright and beloved' middle schooler
The statement from the Carr family's lawyer said Jaysen was a "bright and beloved" middle school student.
"His loss is unimaginable, and our hearts are with his family as they grieve their son and search for answers," the statement said.
The legal team said it will "stand beside this family not only to seek the truth, but to help ensure no other family endures a loss like this."
"We ask that you keep the Carrs in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they prepare to lay Jaysen to rest," Bailey Law Firm's statement said.
Brain-eating amoeba: Person dies from Naegleria fowleri in South Carolina, officials say
Family says boy was infected with brain-eating amoeba at SC lake
The family's statement also said Jaysen Carr developed the infection after swimming at Lake Murray outside Columbia.
The SCDPH said it also believed the exposure occurred at the lake.
"We cannot be completely certain as this organism occurs naturally and is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams," the agency said.
What is Naegleria fowleri? Why is it known as a brain-eating amoeba?
Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that can cause a rare but nearly always fatal brain infection. It thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The amoeba is often referred to as brain-eating because it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that destroys brain tissue.
Most people who have been in bodies of waters have been exposed to the amoeba, but contact alone is not harmful, Dr. Anna Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Prisma Health Children's Hospital Midlands, said during a news conference on July 22.
"Where it can cause an issue is if forceful water gets up the nose and is able to cross from the nose into the brain," Burch said, adding that a PAM infection causes the brain to swell.
To protect against a possible infection, the CDC recommends holding or wearing a nose clip when jumping into fresh water, keeping the head above water in hot springs and using distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing sinuses.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 12-year-old dies from brain-eating amoeba after swimming in lake
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