While rare, Naegleria fowleri infections have a 98% mortality rate.
A Missouri man’s lake outing has ended in tragedy. Local health officials announced this week that a resident died from a rare but nearly always fatal brain amoeba infection likely caught while water skiing.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services disclosed the resident’s death Wednesday, following its initial report of the case last week (though few details about the case were released, several outlets reported the resident was a man). Officials are still investigating the source of the resident’s exposure, but it’s known he had been water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days before becoming sick.
“DHSS regrets to confirm that the patient’s death occurred on Aug. 19 in a St. Louis area hospital. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the patient,” the agency stated.Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba
The man contracted an infection of Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled, shape-shifting amoeba that’s normally harmless.
