Two Deaths From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Prompt Health Warnings

Two recent deaths in the southern United States from a rare brain infection caused by a freshwater amoeba have prompted health officials to warn swimmers about the risks of warm-water activities during the summer months. An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana and a teenager in North Carolina have died from primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, an infection caused by the single-celled organism Naegleria fowleri. The Louisiana Department of Health reported the death of the 8-year-old earlier in August 2026. The child had recently swum in Claiborne Lake near Homer. Just days later, North Carolina health officials confirmed the death of a teenager from the same infection. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services did not release the teen's name, age, or hometown, citing privacy laws. State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore expressed condolences to the family and emphasized the rarity of the infection while urging caution. PAM is exceptionally rare but nearly always fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were only 167 reported cases in the United States from 1962 through 2024, with only four survivors.