A recent case out of South Carolina has once again put the spotlight on a terrifying microscopic killer: the brain-eating amoeba . According to health officials, a child died after being infected with Naegleria fowleri—the rare but deadly organism that thrives in warm freshwater like lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
The victim reportedly came into contact with the amoeba while swimming in a local lake during the sweltering summer heat. Doctors confirmed it as Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)—a brain infection that’s almost always fatal. Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia publicly confirmed the death on July 22, according to a statement from the South Carolina Department of Public Health DPH, Fox News Digital confirmed.
Naegleria fowleri doesn’t actually “eat brains” in the zombie sense. What it does is sneak up the nose when water gets forced up there (think diving, splashing, or improperly cleaned neti pots). From there, it travels along the olfactory nerve into the brain, destroying tissue as it goes.
The numbers aren’t comforting: According to the CDC, only four people in the US have survived out of more than 150 documented infections since 1962.
Brain eating amoeba: Early symptoms you have to take seriously
Here’s the frustrating part: the initial signs of PAM look a lot like a regular viral illness. That’s what makes this thing so dangerous—it hides in plain sight.
The first symptoms usually appear 1 to 12 days after exposure, and may include:
- Severe headache (especially frontal lobe or behind the eyes)
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Loss of balance
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion or changes in behavior
If left untreated, things escalate fast—think hallucinations, seizures, and coma. Once it reaches that stage, survival is extremely rare.
Knowing how to avoid Naegleria fowleri is key:
- Don’t force water up your nose—this includes jumping or diving into freshwater bodies.
- Use nose clips if you’re going to swim in warm freshwater.
- Avoid disturbing the sediment in shallow, warm lakes (the amoeba loves to hide in there).
- Never use tap water for neti pots or nasal rinses unless it’s been boiled, distilled, or sterilized.
So go ahead, enjoy your summer. But if you’ve been in warm freshwater and suddenly develop a splitting headache or confusion, don’t try to tough it out. Get medical help. Fast.
