North Carolina teen dies from brain-eating amoeba found in warm lakes

A North Carolina teenager has died from Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes fatal brain infection, just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died of the same illness.

Why it mattersThough extremely rare, the infection is almost always fatal once it reaches the brain. This makes water safety and awareness crucial during summer months.

AustraliaNaegleria fowleri inhabits warm Australian waters including lakes and rivers; swimmers in Queensland, Northern Territory and other warm regions should know the risk and warning signs.

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