Pediatric deaths from “brain-eating amoeba” have been reported in South Carolina. Health Authority.
Columbia’s Prisma Health Richland Hospital publicly confirmed his death on July 22, according to a statement sent by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) to Fox News Digital.
The patient died after exposure Naegleria fowleriA rare ameba that causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
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“In July 2025, exposure to Naegleria fowleri to the organism is likely to have occurred in Lake Murray, but this organism is naturally occurring and is present in many warm lakes, rivers and streams, so we cannot be completely certain,” South Carolina DPH told DOX News Digital.
“Water activities such as swimming and diving in warm freshwater areas Lakes and riversmay increase the risk of exposure or infection. ”
Naegleria fowleri is at risk when swimming in freshwater. Amoeba is the most active in months beyond July, August and September when water temperatures exceed 77F, health officials said.
Human infections are extremely rare as this is the first case of Naegleria fowleri in South Carolina since 2016.
According to the statement, Naegleria fowleri is not a person who is contagious to humans, so it does not risk to the public.
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“Historically, one infectious disease does not increase the likelihood of another infection occurring in the same waters.”
Fox News Digital previously spoke with Chief Medical Officer Tammy Lundstrom. Infectious diseases Michigan Trinity Health Experts on the risk of infection.
“The risk of brain-eating amoeba is very low,” she said. “There are fewer than 10 people infected in the US each year, and unfortunately, most cases are fatal. Only a handful of known cases are survivors.”
The death rate for Naegleria fowleri is above 97%, according to the CDC.
The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about 5 days after exposure, but can be noticed earlier.
Usually early signs Include headachesnausea, fever, vomiting, says the CDC website.
As the infection progresses, people can experience confusion, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.
“People usually start to feel sick one to 12 days after being exposed to water,” Lundstrom said. “Early symptoms should encourage medical evaluation. Bacterial Meningitis. ”
Deaths can lead to 1 to 18 days of infection, on an average of five days.
To prevent potentially fatal infections, South Carolina health officials said it is important to know how and when exposure is dangerous.
“The way exposure occurs is when the water forces into the nose,” an official told Fox News Digital. “To reduce the risk of infection from Naegleria fowleri, avoid leaving your nose closed, using a nose clip, placing your head over water, jumping up and down, or jumping into freshwater.”
Lundstrom reiterated that it is best to avoid soaking your head in the water while swimming in the summer.
“Infection occurs when water carrying an amoeba usually lifts a person’s nose while swimming,” she previously told Fox News Digital. “I don’t know if some people get infected and others don’t even know about their swimmers.”
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Drinking contaminated water poses no risk and the infection will not spread from one person to another, Lundstrom added.
Because amoeba is found in the soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding agitation of sediments on lakes, ponds and rivers.
When a patient is diagnosed with brain-eating amoeba, treatment usually includes a variety Antifungal drugsLike antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom.
Myrtefosin, a new antifungal drug, has been shown to kill Nagrelia faureli in clinical testing and has been used to treat surviving patients, the CDC says on its website.
“However, the effectiveness of all these drugs on actual infected individuals is unknown due to their high mortality,” Lundstrom noted.
Those who experience sudden headaches, fever, stiff neck, and vomiting – especially if you’ve been swimming in warm freshwater recently, you should look for it immediately Medical proceduresCDC recommends.
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Despite the high mortality rate of infectious diseases, Lundstrom highlighted the rarity of cases.
“Millions of people enjoy swimming every summer, but only a few people get infected,” she said.
