Latest news with #brainEatingAmoeba
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents Speak Out After 12-Year-Old Son Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba: 'We Don't Want His Death to Be in Vain'
The parents of Jaysen Carr, who died July 18 from a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in a South Carolina lake, say warnings should be put in placeNEED TO KNOW Jaysen Carr, 12, died July 18 from Naeglaria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater His parents said they were unaware that it lived in Lake Murray, where Jaysen swam and engaged in other water activities over the Fourth of July weekend According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the amoeba is rarely contracted, but nearly always fatalThe parents of a 12-year-old boy who died this month from a brain-eating amoeba at a popular lake in South Carolina say they want warnings to be put in place to prevent similar tragedies. Clarence and Ebony Carr of Columbia, South Carolina, said they were unaware brain-eating amoeba, Naeglaria fowleri, lived in Lake Murray, where their son, Jaysen, spent time fishing, swimming, boating and tubing over the Fourth of July weekend. Jaysen died on July 18 after being hospitalized for a week and a half from the amoeba, which has killed 163 people between 1962 and 2024 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prisma Health Children's Hospital in South Carolina confirmed that Jaysen died from Naeglaria fowleri. "We're still in shock about how all this happened," Ebony said at a news conference Tuesday, where she and her husband spoke publicly for the first time since their son's death. "Had he known the risk, had we known the risk of him swimming in that lake, nobody would have ever chosen to get in." "We definitely want the public to know that there are major risks swimming in Lake Murray," Ebony said. "There needs to definitely be some awareness about it, and we don't want his death to be in vain, because had we known, he wouldn't have been in it." Dominion Energy, which owns the lake, did not immediately return a request for comment. "A child should not have to lose their life for doing something they assume was safe," Clarence said. "They should not have to double-check to see if they are going to live or die from being a boy. He had a weekend full of fishing, swimming, boating, tubing. That's it. That's all he did." Clarence said a few days after the visit to Lake Murray, Jaysen complained of a headache. His parents gave him over-the-counter pain medicine, which seemed to make him feel better. But the next day, Jaysen complained of the same headache, so they took him to the hospital. There, Jaysen told emergency room doctors where exactly he felt pain — on the right side and front of his head and in his left eye. "In hindsight, 2020, this was no headache. He was being attacked," Clarence said, adding that doctors put Jaysen on antibiotics and performed a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. "From there, things just kind of progressively got worse," he said. "Jaysen was still responding, but he became more and more lethargic as time went on." According to the CDC, Naeglaria fowleri lives in soil and warm freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs. If water containing the amoeba goes up the nose and to the brain, it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which destroys brain tissue and causes brain swelling and death. Typically, fewer than 10 people get it a year in the U.S., and nearly all of them die, the CDC says. Jaysen exhibited some of the early symptoms of the infection, which include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. At the hospital briefing, Anna-Kathryn Burch, a doctor of pediatric infectious diseases, said the amoeba is 'ubiquitous to any fresh water in the state of South Carolina' and in the Southeastern part of the country. For most people who come into contact with this type of amoeba, she said, "it causes no harm whatsoever." As the weather heats up, the number of amoeba in the water increases while water levels decrease, Burch said, adding, 'Most of us have been exposed to this amoeba." Jaysen was the couple's middle child and was very protective of his older sister and younger brother. "He truly had the gift of love, compassion, the athleticism and that big smile that everybody loved about him," Ebony said. A bright student, Jaysen skipped a grade in school, his father said, and played baseball and football, as well as multiple instruments, and was a member of his school's honor band. "I never heard Jaysen say he liked someone," Clarence said. "He either loved you or he just simply did not know who you were." According to the CDC, Naegleria fowleri infections are most often contracted by swimming, but can also occur if a person uses contaminated drinking water to cleanse their nasal passages. The CDC says the only way to prevent an infection is to avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater. If you do swim in rivers or lakes, the CDC advises, hold your nose shut, use nose clips or keep your head above water In a statement to PEOPLE, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services said: Neither the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the routine sampling of ambient water for Naegleria fowleri. We're not aware of any states that perform routine sampling of ambient water for this amoeba. The CDC doesn't recommend testing untreated recreational water or posting signage for Naeglaria fowleri because the location and number of amebas can vary over time within the same body of water, there are no standardized testing methods to detect and determine the number of Naegleria fowleri in the water. and people might mistakenly think that water without signs is free of Naegleria fowleri. The agency said it "monitors ambient water bodies for certain bacteria that have federal and state recreational water standards," noting that such standards do not exist for Naeglaria fowleri . Read the original article on People
Fox News
29-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Death confirmed from rare and deadly 'brain-eating amoeba' in southern lake
A pediatric death from a "brain-eating amoeba" has been reported in South Carolina, according to health officials. Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia publicly confirmed the death on July 22, according to a statement from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) sent to Fox News Digital. The patient died after exposure to Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). FOUR PEOPLE DEAD IN FLORIDA FROM FLESH-EATING BACTERIA FOUND IN COASTAL WATERS "The July 2025 exposure to the organism Naegleria fowleri likely occurred at Lake Murray, but we cannot be completely certain, as this organism occurs naturally and is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams," the South Carolina DPH told Dox News Digital. "Water activities like swimming or diving in warm freshwater areas, such as lakes and rivers, may increase the risk of exposure and infection." Naegleria fowleri can be a risk when swimming in fresh water. The amoeba is most active in the months that the water temperature stays above 77F – July, August and September, the health official said. Infection in humans is very rare, as this is the first case of Naegleria fowleri in South Carolina since 2016. There is no increased risk to the public, as Naegleria fowleri is not transmissible person to person, according to the statement. DANGEROUS FUNGUS COULD SPREAD TO PARTS OF US, RESEARCHERS CLAIM "Historically, one infection does not increase the chances that another will occur in the same body of water." Fox News Digital previously spoke with Tammy Lundstrom, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist for Trinity Health in Michigan, about the risks of infection. "The risk of brain-eating amoeba is very low," she said. "Fewer than 10 people in the U.S. every year get infected — but unfortunately, most cases are fatal. There are only a handful of survivors of known cases." The death rate for Naegleria fowleri exceeds 97%, per the CDC. Warning signs to recognize The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, but they can be noticed sooner. Early signs usually include headache , nausea, fever and/or vomiting, the CDC's website states. As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "People usually start to feel ill one to 12 days after water exposure," Lundstrom said. "Early symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation, as they are also signs of bacterial meningitis ." Death can occur anywhere between one and 18 days of infection, at an average of five days. Prevention of infection To prevent potentially fatal infections, South Carolina health officials said it's important to know how and when exposure could be dangerous. "How exposure occurs is when water forcefully enters the nose," the officials told Fox News Digital. "To reduce the risk of infection from Naegleria fowleri, hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water, and avoid jumping or diving into fresh water." Lundstrom reiterated that it's best to avoid immersing your head in the water when swimming in summer. "Infection occurs when water harboring the amoeba goes up a person's nose, usually during swimming," she previously told Fox News Digital. "It is not known why some people get infected and others, even swimming companions, do not." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Drinking contaminated water does not present a risk, and the infection does not spread from one person to another, Lundstrom added. Because the amoeba is found in soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding stirring up the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers. Treatment of brain-eating amoebas When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment usually includes a variety of antifungal medications , as well as antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom. Miltefosine, a newer antifungal drug, has been shown to kill Nagleria fowleri in laboratory tests and was used to treat some surviving patients, the CDC states on its website. "However, the effect of all of these drugs on actual infected people is unknown due to the high fatality rate," Lundstrom noted. Those who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting — especially if they have recently been swimming in warm freshwater — should seek immediate medical attention , the CDC recommends. For more Health articles, visit Despite the infection's high fatality rate, Lundstrom emphasized the rarity of cases. "Millions of people enjoy swimming every summer, but only a few become infected," she said.
Fox News
25-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Death confirmed from rare and deadly 'brain-eating amoeba' in southern lake
A pediatric death from a "brain-eating amoeba" has been reported in South Carolina, according to health officials. Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia publicly confirmed the death on July 22, according to a statement from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) sent to Fox News Digital. The patient died after exposure to Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). "The July 2025 exposure to the organism Naegleria fowleri likely occurred at Lake Murray, but we cannot be completely certain, as this organism occurs naturally and is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams," the South Carolina DPH told Dox News Digital. "Water activities like swimming or diving in warm freshwater areas, such as lakes and rivers, may increase the risk of exposure and infection." Naegleria fowleri can be a risk when swimming in fresh water. The amoeba is most active in the months that the water temperature stays above 77F – July, August and September, the health official said. Infection in humans is very rare, as this is the first case of Naegleria fowleri in South Carolina since 2016. There is no increased risk to the public, as Naegleria fowleri is not transmissible person to person, according to the statement. "Historically, one infection does not increase the chances that another will occur in the same body of water." Fox News Digital previously spoke with Tammy Lundstrom, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist for Trinity Health in Michigan, about the risks of infection. "The risk of brain-eating amoeba is very low," she said. "Fewer than 10 people in the U.S. every year get infected — but unfortunately, most cases are fatal. There are only a handful of survivors of known cases." The death rate for Naegleria fowleri exceeds 97%, per the CDC. The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, but they can be noticed sooner. Early signs usually include headache, nausea, fever and/or vomiting, the CDC's website states. As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma. "People usually start to feel ill one to 12 days after water exposure," Lundstrom said. "Early symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation, as they are also signs of bacterial meningitis." Death can occur anywhere between one and 18 days of infection, at an average of five days. To prevent potentially fatal infections, South Carolina health officials said it's important to know how and when exposure could be dangerous. "How exposure occurs is when water forcefully enters the nose," the officials told Fox News Digital. "To reduce the risk of infection from Naegleria fowleri, hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water, and avoid jumping or diving into fresh water." Lundstrom reiterated that it's best to avoid immersing your head in the water when swimming in summer. "Infection occurs when water harboring the amoeba goes up a person's nose, usually during swimming," she previously told Fox News Digital. "It is not known why some people get infected and others, even swimming companions, do not." Drinking contaminated water does not present a risk, and the infection does not spread from one person to another, Lundstrom added. Because the amoeba is found in soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding stirring up the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers. When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment usually includes a variety of antifungal medications, as well as antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom. Miltefosine, a newer antifungal drug, has been shown to kill Nagleria fowleri in laboratory tests and was used to treat some surviving patients, the CDC states on its website. "However, the effect of all of these drugs on actual infected people is unknown due to the high fatality rate," Lundstrom noted. Those who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting — especially if they have recently been swimming in warm freshwater — should seek immediate medical attention, the CDC recommends. For more Health articles, visit Despite the infection's high fatality rate, Lundstrom emphasized the rarity of cases. "Millions of people enjoy swimming every summer, but only a few become infected," she said.
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The Independent
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Child dies from brain-eating amoeba in South Carolina
A pediatric patient in a South Carolina hospital has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba. The Prisma Health Children's Hospital patient recently died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, which infects the brain and destroys tissue, Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician Anna Kathryn Burch said Tuesday. The hospital declined to share more details about the patient, and officials have not said where the infection occurred. State authorities say there is no broader risk to the public. A case of Naegleria fowleri was confirmed in South Carolina during the week of July 7, according to the state's Department of Public Health. There have been only 167 reported cases of the infection in the US between 1962 and 2024, the CDC reports. However, just four people have survived the infection. The CDC does not track infections from the amoeba, nor does it provide information about or comment on individual cases, DPS told WIS in a statement. Naegleria fowleri naturally lives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and poorly maintained or unchlorinated pools. It thrives in temperatures between 80 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit and is more prevalent in the warmer months, especially in southern states. People become infected when contaminated water enters the body through the nose, typically while swimming or diving in warm freshwater. Once in the nose, the amoeba travels to the brain, where it causes a severe and often fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Naegleria fowleri cannot infect a person if the water is swallowed, and it does not spread from person to person. This isn't the first death involving Naegleria fowleri this year. In May, a previously-healthy 71-year-old woman from Texas died from an infection caused by the amoeba after using tap water from her RV in a nasal irrigation device. Infection is extremely rare otherwise - but it is almost always fatal. Symptoms usually begin within one to 12 days of exposure and may include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, and altered mental state. To reduce risk, experts advise avoiding freshwater activities during high temperatures, using nose clips, and avoiding putting your head underwater in warm freshwater.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Patient dies of brain-eating amoeba in South Carolina, hospital confirms
A patient in a South Carolina children's hospital has died of a brain-eating amoeba, according to the facility. In a news briefing Tuesday, Prisma Health Children's Hospital-Midlands confirmed the patient died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, also known as PAM, a rare but often fatal brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri organism. The hospital did not share any more details about the patient or where they became infected, but added this is the only case reported in the state this year. In the briefing, Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the hospital, said these infections are "very devastating," with the vast majority of cases in the United States ending in death. "Greater than 97% of cases that have occurred since the '60s have been fatal," she said. Burch explained the infections occur when forceful water gets up the nose and is able to cross into the brain. This can happen during recreational water activities in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs, where the amoeba thrives. To reduce your risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests holding your nose or wearing a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into freshwater or keeping your head above water in hot springs. You cannot get a Naegleria fowleri infection from swallowing contaminated water or from someone else who is infected. This isn't the first death caused by Naegleria fowleri in the U.S. this year. A Texas woman died from an infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba after using tap water from her RV in a nasal irrigation device, health officials reported in May. The previously healthy 71-year-old developed severe symptoms, including fever, headache and altered mental status, within four days after the nasal irrigation rinse, the CDC case report said. Despite medical treatment for a suspected PAM infection, she developed seizures and died eight days after the symptoms began.
