8-year-old girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection in Louisiana

An 8-year-old girl, Lillian Smart, has tragically died in Louisiana after falling victim to a rare brain-eating amoeba infection, according to her family. The amoeba responsible, Naegleria fowleri, thrives in warm freshwater bodies across the United States. Once it breaches the nose and reaches the brain, it can lead to a fatal condition known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM.

Between 1937 and 2025, there have been roughly 180 confirmed infections in the U.S., with the majority proving fatal. Last weekend, Lillian's parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared their heartache on Facebook, stating that their daughter was "taken from our arms to the arms of Jesus." The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that this marked the first case of Naegleria fowleri in the state since 2013.

The family believes Lillian contracted the infection while swimming in Lake Claiborne, north Louisiana. Health officials warn that the amoeba becomes particularly dangerous when water temperatures exceed 77 degrees Fahrenheit, with most cases occurring in the summer months in the southern U.S. To mitigate the risk of infection, the CDC recommends using a nose clip or holding the nose while engaging in freshwater activities.

Symptoms of the infection include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental state, and hallucinations. The infection cannot be contracted by swallowing contaminated water or through contact with an infected individual.