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North Carolina Teen Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba Found in Freshwater
Health officials said fewer than 10 people a year get the rare infection, which is almost always fatal.
- A North Carolina teen, identified by his mother Monica Mendoza as Moises Ponce Mendoza, died Monday, Aug. 31, after contracting a rare infection from Naegleria fowleri.
- Naegleria is a microscopic amoeba found in soil and warm freshwater that causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, when contaminated water enters the nose.
- Infections are extremely rare but almost always fatal, with a survival rate of less than 3%. Most patients die within 1-18 days after symptoms—headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting—begin.
- The NCDHHS is working with The CDC to investigate the source of the infection, though officials have released no further details to protect the family's privacy.
- State Epidemiologist Zack Moore said in a release last week that while infections are very rare, swimmers should hold their nose or wear nose clips when jumping into fresh water.
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Travel & Lifestyle: North Carolina Teen Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba
A North Carolina boy has died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater, with his death coming just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died from a similar infection. The teenager, whose name and exact location were not released to protect the family’s privacy, died Monday after falling critically ill in recent days, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to HuffPost. “NCDHHS is co…
The disease can cause a rare and severe infection when contaminated water enters through the nose The post ‘Breed eater' makes new victim in the USA; teen dies days after case of 8 year old girl appeared first in ND More
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Total News Sources30
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center27Last UpdatedBias Distribution93% Center
Bias Distribution
- 93% of the sources are Center
93% Center
C 93%
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