Child dies from brain-eating amoeba in South Carolina

A pediatric patient in a South Carolina The hospital died of a rare brain eating.

The Prisma Health Children’s Hospital The patient recently died after contracting Naegleria FowleriWho infects the brain and destroys tissues and pediatric infectious doctor Anna Kathryn Burch said on Tuesday.

The hospital refused to share more details on the patient, and those responsible have not said where the infection occurred. State authorities claim that there is no broader risk for the public.

A case of Naegleria Fowleri was confirmed in South Carolina during the week of July 7, according to the State Department of Public Health. There were only 167 cases reported in infection in the United States between 1962 and 2024, reports the CDC. However, only four people survived the infection.

The CDC does not follow amiberal infections, or provides information or comments on individual cases, said DPS Wis in a declaration.

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Naegleria Fowleri lives naturally in hot freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, hot springs and poorly maintained or uncommon pools. He thrives at temperatures between 80 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit and is more widespread during the hottest months, especially in the southern states.

People are infected when contaminated water enters the body by the nose, generally swimming or diving into hot fresh water. Once in the nose, the amibe moves to the brain, where it causes a severe and often fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis.

Naegleria Fowleri cannot infect one person if the water is swallowed, and it does not spread from one person to another.

This is not the first death involving Naegleria Fowleri this year. In May, a 71-year-old woman from Texas who died of an infection caused by Amibe after using the tap water from her motorhome in a nasal irrigation device.

The infection is extremely rare otherwise – but it is almost always fatal. Symptoms generally start within one to 12 days of exposure and may include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, steep neck, convulsions and an altered mental state.

To reduce the risks, experts advise to avoid freshwater activities at high temperatures, use nose clips and avoid putting your head underwater in hot fresh water.

The independent contacted the DPS and the CDC for comments.