Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills Nevada Boy

LAS VEGAS, NV – A Clark County boy died from a brain-eating amoeba infection that officials believe he contracted while visiting Lake Mead, the South Nevada Health District said in a news release.

The boy, who was under 18, may have been exposed to the Naegleria fowleri infection on the Arizona side of the lake at the beginning of October before developing symptoms about a week later, according to the release.

Symptoms of a brain infection typically begin with headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting before progressing to a stiff neck, seizures, coma, and ultimately death, the South Nevada Health District said.

After infection, symptoms usually begin within 1 to 12 days, and the disease progresses rapidly – usually killing a person within about 5 days, according to the district.

Naegleria fowleri is typically found in bodies of warm freshwater like lakes and rivers, and in geothermal water, like hot springs, the district said. The amoeba infects people by entering the body through the nose and traveling to the brain and is not spread by mouth or person-to-person.

According to the South Nevada Health District, the infection is extremely rare and is almost always fatal.

Swimming precautions recommended by the CDC include:

• Avoid jumping or diving into bodies of warm fresh water, especially during the summer.
• Hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water when in bodies of warm fresh water.
• Avoid putting your head underwater in hot springs and other untreated geothermal waters.
• Avoid digging in, or stirring up, the sediment in shallow warm fresh water.

"My condolences go out to the family of this young man," Dr. Fermin Leguen, the district health officer, said in a statement. "While I want to reassure the public that this type of infection is an extremely rare occurrence, I know this brings no comfort to his family and friends at this time."