A young boy in Nebraska has died after being suspected of being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers. The child, whose name and age have not been released, is the first known death in Nebraska from the parasite, according to health officials. Health officials believe the child was exposed to Naegleria fowleri while swimming Aug. 8 in a shallow section of the Elkhorn River in Douglas County. Symptoms began about five days after the child’s exposure, and within 48 hours, the child was admitted to an area hospital. The toddler died several days later from his infection, said Dr. Cary Nieman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical consultant in Douglas County. Officials said the child was swimming normally when exposed. Naegleri fowleri enter the body through their nose and can travel to the brain and destroy brain tissue. Federal health officials are working to confirm whether the case was a Naegleria fowleri infection, the Douglas County Health Department said. “We can only imagine the devastation this family must be feeling and our deepest condolences go out to them,” Douglas County Health Director Lindsey Huss said in a statement Wednesday. “We can honor this child’s memory by learning about the risk and then taking steps to prevent infection.” Last month, a Missouri swimmer believed to have contracted the amoeba while swimming at an Iowa beach died from the infection. The swimmer became infected on July 7 after swimming in Three Fires Lakes in Taylor County, Iowa officials said. Although the chances of contracting the rare amoeba are low, health officials say people should take extra precautions when swimming in fresh water such as lakes and rivers. Symptoms of primary meningoencephalitis include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and seizures. These types of infection occur mostly during the summer months, between July and September, and in the southern states of the US, according to the CDC. Contact our news team by emailing [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
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title: “Young Boy Dies After Brain Eating Amoeba Infection Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-05” author: “Christina Stubbs”
A young boy in Nebraska has died after being suspected of being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers. The child, whose name and age have not been released, is the first known death in Nebraska from the parasite, according to health officials. Health officials believe the child was exposed to Naegleria fowleri while swimming Aug. 8 in a shallow section of the Elkhorn River in Douglas County. Symptoms began about five days after the child’s exposure, and within 48 hours, the child was admitted to an area hospital. The toddler died several days later from his infection, said Dr. Cary Nieman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical consultant in Douglas County. Officials said the child was swimming normally when exposed. Naegleri fowleri enter the body through their nose and can travel to the brain and destroy brain tissue. Federal health officials are working to confirm whether the case was a Naegleria fowleri infection, the Douglas County Health Department said. “We can only imagine the devastation this family must be feeling and our deepest condolences go out to them,” Douglas County Health Director Lindsey Huss said in a statement Wednesday. “We can honor this child’s memory by learning about the risk and then taking steps to prevent infection.” Last month, a Missouri swimmer believed to have contracted the amoeba while swimming at an Iowa beach died from the infection. The swimmer became infected on July 7 after swimming in Three Fires Lakes in Taylor County, Iowa officials said. Although the chances of contracting the rare amoeba are low, health officials say people should take extra precautions when swimming in fresh water such as lakes and rivers. Symptoms of primary meningoencephalitis include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and seizures. These types of infection occur mostly during the summer months, between July and September, and in the southern states of the US, according to the CDC. Contact our news team by emailing [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
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title: “Young Boy Dies After Brain Eating Amoeba Infection Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Aaron Gilbert”
A young boy in Nebraska has died after being suspected of being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers. The child, whose name and age have not been released, is the first known death in Nebraska from the parasite, according to health officials. Health officials believe the child was exposed to Naegleria fowleri while swimming Aug. 8 in a shallow section of the Elkhorn River in Douglas County. Symptoms began about five days after the child’s exposure, and within 48 hours, the child was admitted to an area hospital. The toddler died several days later from his infection, said Dr. Cary Nieman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical consultant in Douglas County. Officials said the child was swimming normally when exposed. Naegleri fowleri enter the body through their nose and can travel to the brain and destroy brain tissue. Federal health officials are working to confirm whether the case was a Naegleria fowleri infection, the Douglas County Health Department said. “We can only imagine the devastation this family must be feeling and our deepest condolences go out to them,” Douglas County Health Director Lindsey Huss said in a statement Wednesday. “We can honor this child’s memory by learning about the risk and then taking steps to prevent infection.” Last month, a Missouri swimmer believed to have contracted the amoeba while swimming at an Iowa beach died from the infection. The swimmer became infected on July 7 after swimming in Three Fires Lakes in Taylor County, Iowa officials said. Although the chances of contracting the rare amoeba are low, health officials say people should take extra precautions when swimming in fresh water such as lakes and rivers. Symptoms of primary meningoencephalitis include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and seizures. These types of infection occur mostly during the summer months, between July and September, and in the southern states of the US, according to the CDC. Contact our news team by emailing [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
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title: “Young Boy Dies After Brain Eating Amoeba Infection Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-06” author: “Kathryn Solano”
A young boy in Nebraska has died after being suspected of being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers. The child, whose name and age have not been released, is the first known death in Nebraska from the parasite, according to health officials. Health officials believe the child was exposed to Naegleria fowleri while swimming Aug. 8 in a shallow section of the Elkhorn River in Douglas County. Symptoms began about five days after the child’s exposure, and within 48 hours, the child was admitted to an area hospital. The toddler died several days later from his infection, said Dr. Cary Nieman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical consultant in Douglas County. Officials said the child was swimming normally when exposed. Naegleri fowleri enter the body through their nose and can travel to the brain and destroy brain tissue. Federal health officials are working to confirm whether the case was a Naegleria fowleri infection, the Douglas County Health Department said. “We can only imagine the devastation this family must be feeling and our deepest condolences go out to them,” Douglas County Health Director Lindsey Huss said in a statement Wednesday. “We can honor this child’s memory by learning about the risk and then taking steps to prevent infection.” Last month, a Missouri swimmer believed to have contracted the amoeba while swimming at an Iowa beach died from the infection. The swimmer became infected on July 7 after swimming in Three Fires Lakes in Taylor County, Iowa officials said. Although the chances of contracting the rare amoeba are low, health officials say people should take extra precautions when swimming in fresh water such as lakes and rivers. Symptoms of primary meningoencephalitis include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and seizures. These types of infection occur mostly during the summer months, between July and September, and in the southern states of the US, according to the CDC. Contact our news team by emailing [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
