Death confirmed by the rare and mortal ‘ameba that eats brain’ in the south of the lake

According to health officials, a pediatric death of an “amoeba that eats brain” in South Carolina has been reported.

Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia publicly confirmed death on July 22, according to a statement from the Department of Public Health of South Carolina (DPH) sent to News Digital.

The patient died after exposure to Naegleria Fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes a potentially deadly cerebral infection called primary amoebic meningephance (PAM).

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“The exposure of July 2025 to the agency that Naegleria Fowleri probably occurred in Lake Murray, but we cannot be completely safe, since this organism occurs naturally and is present in many lakes, rivers and streams of warm water,” said the DPH of South Carolina to Dox News Digital.

“Aquatic activities such as swimming or diving in warm areas of fresh water, such as lakes and rivers, can increase the risk of exposure and infection.”

Naegleria Fowleri can be a risk when swimming in fresh water. AMEBA is more active in the months than the water temperature remains above 77F – July, August and September, said the health official.

Human infection is very rare, since this is the first case of Naegleria Fowleri in South Carolina since 2016.

There is no greater risk to the public, since Naegleria Fowleri is not transmissible from person to person, according to the statement.

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“Historically, an infection does not increase the possibilities that another occurs in the same body of water.”

News Digital previously spoke with Tammy Lundstrom, medical director and specialist in Trinity Health infectious diseases in Michigan, about the risks of infection.

“The risk of ameba that eats brain is very low,” he said. “Less than 10 people in the United States each year are infected, but unfortunately, most cases are fatal. There are only a handful of survivors of known cases.”

The mortality rate for Naegleria Fowleri exceeds 97%, according to CDC.

Warning signals to recognize

PAM’s initial symptoms generally begin approximately five days after the exhibition, but they can be noticed before.

Early signs generally Include headachenausea, fever and/or vomiting, establishes the website of the CDC.

As the infection progresses, people can experience confusion, rigid neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.

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“People generally begin to feel ill from one to 12 days after exposure to water,” Lundstrom said. “The first symptoms must cause a medical evaluation, since they are also signs of bacterial meningitis“

Death can occur anywhere between one and 18 days of infection, at an average of five days.

Infection prevention

To prevent potentially fatal infections, South Carolina’s health officials said it is important to know how and when the exhibition could be dangerous.

“How the exposure occurs is when the water enters vigorously into the nose,” officials told News Digital. “To reduce the risk of infection of Naegleria Fowleri, keep your nose closed, use nose clips or keep your head over the water, and avoid jumping or immerse yourself in fresh water.”

Lundstrom reiterated that it is better to avoid immersing the head in the water when it swam in summer.

“The infection occurs when the water that houses the amoeba raises a person’s nose, usually during swimming,” he told News Digital. “It is not known why some people infect and others, even swimming partners, do not.”

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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 on the ground, the CDCs also recommend avoiding stressing the sediment at the bottom of the lakes, ponds and rivers.

Amoebas treatment to eat brain

When a patient has been diagnosed with an amoeba that eats brain, treatment generally includes a variety of antimicotic medicationsas well as antibiotics such as rifampín and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom.

Miltefosine has been shown, a newer antifungal medicine, kills Nagleria Fowleri in laboratory tests and used to treat some surviving patients, according to CDC on their website.

“However, the effect of all these medications on real infected people due to the high mortality rate is unknown,” Lundstrom said.

Those who experience sudden headache, fever, rigid neck or vomiting, especially if they have recently been swimming in warm fresh water, should seek immediate medical attentionCDC recommends.

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Despite the high infection mortality rate, Lundstrom emphasized the rarity of cases.

“Millions of people enjoy swimming every summer, but only a few are infected,” he said.