LAS VEGAS — A Nevada boy has died from an infection of Naegleria fowleri and was likely exposed while swimming in the largest reservoir in the U.S.
Officials from the Southern Nevada Health District believe the boy became infected with the brain-eating amoeba while swimming on the Arizona side of Lake Mead in late September. Officials did not release the boy’s name but said he was a Clark County resident under 18.
The infection, which is extremely rare and almost always fatal, is the first recorded fatality from the amoeba at Lake Mead, according to The Las Vegas Sun.
A child has died from a deadly amoeba likely contracted earlier this month at Lake Mead, says Southern Nevada Health Districthttps://t.co/lR3SPNSjPW
— Las Vegas Sun (@LasVegasSun) October 19, 2022
“My condolences go out to the family of this young man. 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,” Dr. Fermin Leguen, district health officer for the Health District, said in a news release.
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism sometimes found in warm freshwater that can sometimes cause a fatal infection that attacks the brain. It does not spread from person to person.
According to The Las Vegas Sun, the CDC believes there is a higher infection rate among males 14 and younger because they tend to dive into water and play near sediment where the dangerous amoebas are present.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has contracted Naegleria fowleri, it is vital to seek medical attention immediately.
Lake Mead’s water levels have dropped to historic lows in 2022 amid a drought, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The receding waters of Lake Mead have not only contributed to warmer water but also revealed the skeletal remains of at least five people, countless desiccated fish, and what has become a graveyard of forgotten and stranded watercraft, according to The Associated Press.
©2022 Cox Media Group
