8-year-old Louisiana girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater

An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has tragically passed away after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The amoeba, which thrives in warm freshwater, is typically found in U.S. lakes, rivers, canals and ponds, particularly during the summer months in southern states. Lillian Smart's parents expressed their grief after their daughter ran from their arms to the arms of Jesus, stating that the injuries to her brain were too severe to recover from.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that the state had its first case of Naegleria fowleri since 2013. The health officials emphasized that the infection cannot spread from person to person and that there are usually fewer than 10 cases per year in the U.S.