Fatal Brain-Eating Amoeba Claims Lives in Arkansas

A 16-month-old toddler in Arkansas died from a rare brain-eating amoeba infection, likely contracted at a splash pad at a country club. The Naegleria fowleri infection, which destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal, is caused by an amoeba found in warm freshwater. The splash pad at the Country Club of Little Rock has been closed, and samples have been sent to the CDC for evaluation. This is the first case of Naegleria fowleri in Arkansas since 2013, and precautions such as keeping water from going up the nose are recommended to prevent infection.