According to Fox News, there has been a confirmed death from a rare and deadly disease known as the “brain-eating amoeba” in South Carolina. The incident occurred on July 22, 2025, nearly a week ago. Fox News reported that the patient died after exposure to the brain-eating amoeba.
On June 9, 2025, ABC News also reported that a woman in Texas died from the same rare brain-eating amoeba after using a sinus rinse with contaminated water, according to a case report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been many comments concerning this incident. Some people believe that severe environmental degradation is leading to outbreaks of unusual diseases, while others see these claims as completely unfounded.
Here are some of the comments from Fox News:
1st comment: When I was about 12 in the 70s, we swam in all kinds of lakes, all over the place. Played in streams, all that. Not one person I ever knew, or ever heard of, got any such thing. Never even heard of this until relatively recently.
2nd comment: One of my cousins died like this after a July 4th outing so many years ago. The scary--and sad thing about it--there were about 20 young cousins in the lake that afternoon, but only he got sick a couple of days later, and was dead by July 22, my sister's BD. I feel for this family--the suddenness of this type of death--almost like a Russian roulette--is so unsettling. It took my aunt so long to get over his death--the WHY my child aspect of it. My hope for this family is that their cherished memories of their loved one can help them deal with the unfairness of this type of death.
Yes, we know you may have your own comments too. Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
Now, why are we sharing this news? It is because we want you to understand the disease. Although it seems rare, it could happen to you or your loved ones. Having detailed information about it may help keep you and your loved ones safe.
What Is the Brain-Eating Amoeba?
To begin, the brain-eating amoeba is caused by a microorganism scientifically known as Naegleria fowleri. When this microorganism enters the human body, it infects the brain, causing a condition called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM, also known as the brain-eating amoeba infection, is a very serious disease that is almost always fatal.
Since its discovery in Australia in 1965, the brain-eating amoeba has spread to different countries, including the United States.
Where Are Brain-Eating Amoebas Found?
Naegleria thrives in very warm water and can survive in temperatures as high as 115°F (46.1°C). This amoeba is commonly found in places such as:
● Warm lakes, ponds, and rock pits
● Mud puddles
● Warm, slow-flowing rivers, especially those with low water levels
● Untreated swimming pools and spas
● Untreated well water or untreated municipal water
● Hot springs and other geothermal water sources
● Thermally polluted water, such as runoff from power plants
● Aquariums
● Soil, including indoor dust
● Splash pads for children
● Water parks
The brain-eating amoeba cannot survive in salt water, well-treated swimming pools, or any properly treated water.
How Do You Get Infected by the Brain-Eating Amoeba?
An individual becomes infected by the brain-eating amoeba after coming into contact with contaminated water, usually through the nose or mouth. As mentioned earlier, this infected water can be found in various places. Once inside, the amoeba travels to the brain and eventually destroys it by “eating” the brain tissue.
A person infected with the brain-eating amoeba cannot transmit the infection to another person.
Signs and Symptoms of Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection
Early symptoms of PAM may include:
● Headache
● Fever
● Nausea and vomiting
According to the CDC, PAM progresses rapidly. Most people with PAM die within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin. It usually leads to coma and death within 5 days.
As PAM progresses, symptoms may include:
● Stiff neck
● Confusion
● Lack of attention to people and surroundings
● Loss of balance
● Hallucinations
Diagnosis of Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection
The brain-eating amoeba is difficult to diagnose. If your doctor suspects PAM, they will use specific lab tests to detect the amoeba in cerebrospinal fluid, biopsies, or tissue specimens. However, not all laboratories can perform these specialized tests.
PAM is rare and difficult to diagnose, with 75% of cases usually identified only after the disease has caused death.
Treatment of Brain-Eating Amoeba
According to the CDC, a combination of medications has been used successfully by most survivors to treat PAM. Many of these drugs have been found to possess anti-amoebic activity against the brain-eating amoeba.
These medications include: Amphotericin B1, Amphotericin B, Azithromycin, Posaconazole2,3, Rifampin, Miltefosine4, Dexamethasone, and Nitroxoline5.
These medications have different routes of administration, dosages, and durations. Please do not self-medicate; consult a doctor for proper prescription and guidance.
How to Prevent Brain-Eating Amoeba
In medicine, there is a saying: prevention is better than cure. This is true—by focusing on prevention, it is possible to avoid the serious consequences of this disease.
For example, in the United States, these brain infections are rare—typically fewer than 10 cases occur each year. However, only a few people have ever survived PAM.
The following precautions can help protect you from the brain-eating amoeba.
● Avoid swimming, wading, or doing water sports in warm freshwater locations, especially still waters, without using nose plugs. Do not enter the water at all if Naegleria fowleri is known or suspected to be present.
● Do not use tap water for a neti pot or any other device that cleans your nasal passages. Only use distilled or sterilized water. If you must use tap water, boil it for one minute and then let it cool. If you live at an altitude of 6,500 feet or higher, boil the water for three minutes before cooling.
● You can use filters to remove germs from water. Use filters labeled “NSF 53,” “NSF 58,” or those with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller.
● You can also use chlorine bleach liquid or tablets to disinfect water for cleaning your nose and sinuses. However, the amount of bleach required for disinfecting water for nasal use differs from that for drinking water.
● If you develop symptoms like fever or headache after exposure to warm freshwater, inform your healthcare provider about where you have been.
You can also reduce your risk of contracting PAM by taking the following precautions:
● Hold your nose or wear a nose clip when jumping or diving into fresh water.
● Always keep your head above water in hot springs.
● Avoid digging in shallow water, as the amoeba is more likely to live there.
● Use distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.
Has Anyone Survived the Brain-Eating Amoeba?
According to the CDC, most people infected by the brain-eating amoeba do not survive. However, five individuals have managed to survive in North America: a U.S. survivor in 1978, a Mexico survivor in 2003, a U.S. female survivor in 2013, a U.S. male survivor in 2013, and a U.S. survivor in 2016.
Who is at risk of Brain-Eating Amoeba?
According to WebMD, over 60% of U.S. cases occur in children aged 13 or younger, and about 80% of cases are in males.
However, it is not clear whether children or males are more susceptible to the amoeba, or if young males are simply more likely to engage in activities that expose them to it.
You become at high risk when engaging in activities in areas where the brain-eating amoeba is likely to be present. Swimming or diving in freshwater lakes, rivers, or ponds during the summer months increases the risk. Infections often occur after prolonged hot weather, which raises water temperatures and lowers water levels.
To be clear, swimming or diving in these places during summer is not a direct cause of PAM, but it does increase your risk, especially if the water is contaminated with the brain-eating amoeba.
Additionally, a few infections have occurred when people used tap water containing the brain-eating amoeba to rinse their sinuses or cleanse their nasal passages.
In very rare instances, people have become infected from recreational water sources like splash pads and surf parks that did not have sufficient chlorine.
