A Missouri resident who became infected with a rare, brain-eating amoeba possibly while swimming in an Iowa lake has died, health officials said.
The Missouri patient was being treated in an intensive care unit for primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a life-threatening infection of the brain caused by the amoeba, health officials said.
"PAM is extremely rare. Since 1962, only 154 known cases have been identified in the United States," the agency said in a release. Infections caused by Naegleria fowleri may occur when water where the amoeba is present enters the body through a person's nose, then travels up to the brain where it destroys brain tissue, the health department said. The infection isn't contagious and can't be caused by swallowing contaminated water.
Although rare, PAM is"devastating" and"usually fatal," according to the CDC."Among well-documented cases, there are only five known survivors in North America," the CDC said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fox News star Tucker Carlson flirts with presidential run in Iowa speechTucker Carlson, the top-rated Fox News host who has built a following pushing conspiracy theories and lighting into the culture wars, on Friday flirted with a presidential run in his speech to a large gathering of Christian conservative voters in Des Moines, Iowa.
Read more »
Swimmer likely infected by brain-eating amoeba in lake has diedA person suspected of being infected by a brain-eating amoeba has died in Iowa.
Read more »
This map shows which US lakes contain brain-eating amoebasThe CDC has released a map that shows where brain-eating amoebas are infecting people in lakes across the U.S.
Read more »
Missouri resident dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoebaThe patient may have been exposed to the amoeba while swimming at the Lake of Three Fires in Iowa, health officials said.
Read more »
Police: Swimmer from Humble drowns in Lake ConroeRelatives called 911 around 2 p.m. after Jesus Cabrera, of Humble, disappeared into the...
Read more »