Nebraska Child Dies Of Suspected Brain-Eating Amoeba: Officials

OMAHA, NE — A Nebraska child is dead after they were infected by a brain-eating amoeba, which may have been contracted from swimming in the Elkhorn River, according to county and state health officials.

In a statement released by the Nebraska Department of Public Health, officials said the child's death was likely caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds throughout the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct further testing to confirm.

When water containing the amoeba goes up the nose, it can cause a brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, according to the CDC.

Infections typically occur in the late summer months as water temperatures rise and water levels decrease. Cases are more frequently identified in southern states, according to the Nebraska Department of Public Health, but cases have been reported in northern states.

Just last month, a Missouri resident was infected by the amoeba after swimming at Three Fires State Park in Taylor County, Iowa. The lake was closed to the public while it underwent testing.

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Since 1962, only 154 known cases have been identified in the United States. Fewer than eight infections are identified in the United States each year, according to Nebraska state epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Donahue. Infections are usually fatal.

"We can only imagine the devastation this family must be feeling," Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse said in a statement. “And our deepest condolences are with them. We can honor the memory of this child by becoming educated about the risk and then taking steps to prevent infection."

People can reduce the risk of infection and limit the amount of water going up the nose by taking steps such as:

• Hold your nose shut using nose clips or keeping your head above water in warm freshwater.
• Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature.
• Avoid digging in or stirring up sediment in shallow, warm freshwater.

People who experience the following symptoms after swimming in a warm body of water should contact their health care provider immediately:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Seizures
• Altered mental status
• Hallucinations

For more information about Naegleria fowleri, visit the CDC’s webpage.

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