The amoeba goes up the nose, usually during swimming.
A child in United States' Nebraska is suspected to have died from a rare case of brain-eating amoeba, according to a report in ABC News. If confirmed, this will be the first such case in Nebraska, the outlet further said.
Here are five points about Naegleria fowleri:
- According to CDC, Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that lives in soil and warm fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
- It is called "brain-eating amoeba" because it can cause a brain infection when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose, usually during swimming. The infection is almost always fatal.
- People do not become infected from drinking contaminated water or swimming in a pool that is properly chlorinated, according to the CDC.
- The CDC further said that only three people get infected from it every year in the United States.
- When a person catches the infection, the initial symptoms can include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting.
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