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An 8-year-old girl from Louisiana has tragically passed away after contracting a rare and deadly brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, according to her family.
Lillian Smart succumbed to the infection over the weekend. Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is found in warm freshwater environments across the United States.
The amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain, causing a devastating infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is almost always fatal. In the U.S., fewer than 10 cases are reported annually.
Lillian’s parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, saying, “Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here.”
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that this marks the state’s first confirmed case of Naegleria fowleri infection since 2013, though they did not publicly identify Lillian. Spokesperson Stacey Grow noted that the department does not comment on individual cases.
Governor Jeff Landry expressed his condolences on social media, saying he was “heartbroken over the news of Lillian’s passing.”
Health officials believe Lillian was exposed to the amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne in northern Louisiana. The infection occurs when contaminated warm freshwater, typically above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, enters the nose and allows the amoeba to reach the brain.
Since 1937, approximately 180 cases have been confirmed nationwide, with nearly all resulting in death. Importantly, the infection is not transmissible from person to person.
Naegleria fowleri naturally inhabits warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds, mostly in southern states during the summer months. However, cases have recently been reported in other parts of the country, including Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota.
The Louisiana Department of Health emphasized that there is no routine testing for the amoeba in bodies of water, as it occurs naturally. This tragic case follows a similar incident last year, when a 12-year-old boy in South Carolina died from the infection.