All articles tagged with #naegleria fowleri
A man-made water feature at a Durham mental health center is the likely source of a fatal brain-eating amoeba infection that killed a 17-year-old boy. CDC data shows 180 cases in the US since 1937, with Texas and Delaware having the most.
North Carolina health officials have identified a water feature at the El Futuro community center in Durham as the most likely source of a fatal Naegleria fowleri infection that killed 17-year-old Moises Ponce Mendoza. Mendoza visited the center on August 13, 2026, and died on August 31. The feature was closed on August 28 after testing positive for the amoeba. While investigators could not conclusively prove the exposure site, environmental and epidemiological evidence points to the water feature as the probable cause.
North Carolina health officials have identified a water feature at the El Futuro community center in Durham County as the likely source of a fatal Naegleria fowleri infection that killed 17-year-old Moises Ponce Mendoza. The teen visited the facility on August 13, 2026, and was hospitalized on August 22 after suffering severe headaches. He died on August 31. The water feature, described as a man-made creek with fountains, was closed on August 28 and tested positive for the amoeba. While investigators could not conclusively prove the exposure site, the timing and environmental evidence strongly implicate the center.
North Carolina health officials have identified a water feature at the El Futuro community center in Durham County as the most likely source of the Naegleria fowleri infection that killed 17-year-old Moises Ponce Mendoza. The teen died on August 31, 2026, after contracting the rare brain-eating amoeba. Although investigators could not conclusively prove the exact point of exposure, environmental testing and interviews pointed to the facility’s interactive water feature, which was closed on August 28. The feature, described as a man-made creek with fountains and pumps, tested positive for non-viable amoeba DNA and showed signs of inadequate disinfection and algal growth. The CDC and state health departments emphasize that while Naegleria fowleri is extremely rare, it is almost always fatal, with over 97% of infected individuals dying within days of symptom onset.
A 17-year-old North Carolina boy died from a rare brain infection after likely contracting the amoeba Naegleria fowleri at a community center water feature. State officials identified the site as the probable source after testing confirmed the presence of the pathogen, though they could not definitively prove the exact moment of exposure.
North Carolina health officials have identified a man-made water feature at the El Futuro mental health center in Durham as the likely source of the Naegleria fowleri infection that killed 17-year-old Moises Ponce Mendoza. The teen, who splashed water on his face at the site on August 13, was hospitalized on August 22 and died on August 31. State investigators found that the feature, which uses a recirculating pump system, was not effectively disinfected and lacked required permits. The site was closed on August 28 after CDC samples from the storage tank and surrounding area tested positive for the amoeba.
North Carolina health officials have identified a man-made water feature at the El Futuro community organization in Durham as the 'most likely' source of the Naegleria fowleri infection that killed a local teenager in August 2026. The investigation, which tested multiple sites, found non-viable amoebas and algae in the facility's storage tank, linking the exposure to the teen's visit on August 13.
North Carolina health officials have identified a man-made water feature at the El Futuro mental health center in Durham as the 'most likely' source of the Naegleria fowleri infection that killed a 17-year-old boy. The teen, identified in earlier reports as Moises Ponce Mendoza, died on August 31 after contracting the rare brain-eating amoeba. Investigators found that the water feature, which includes a recirculating pump and fountains, lacked proper permits and effective disinfection, creating ideal conditions for the amoeba to thrive. The facility has been closed since August 28, and officials are urging the public to avoid similar warm water exposures.
North Carolina health officials identified a man-made water feature at the El Futuro mental health center in Durham as the likely source of a fatal Naegleria fowleri infection that killed 17-year-old Moses Mendoza. The feature, which lacked required permits and had visible algal growth, was closed in August after testing positive for the amoeba.
North Carolina health officials have identified a man-made water feature at El Futuro, a mental health nonprofit in Durham, as the likely source of a rare brain infection that killed a 17-year-old boy. The teen, identified as Moses Mendoza, died on August 31 after contracting Naegleria fowleri. Investigators found that the water feature, which includes a pump and fountains, lacked proper disinfection and permits, leading to the closure of the site.
North Carolina health officials have identified a water feature at El Futuro, a nonprofit mental health organization in Durham, as the most likely source of a fatal Naegleria fowleri infection that killed a local teenager on August 31, 2026. The state Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed that testing found the 'brain-eating' amoeba in the facility's outdoor green space, which was closed for CDC testing on August 28. While the teen’s name has not been released, investigators believe the victim splashed water on their face at the site during the exposure period. El Futuro, which supports Latino families, issued a statement expressing grief and confirming full cooperation with public health officials. The infection, which enters the body through the nose, is extremely rare but nearly always fatal, with only 167 cases reported in the U.S. between 1962 and 2024.
Warmer North Carolina waters—driven by climate change—are expanding the season for harmful algae and microbes, with rare but deadly infections from Naegleria fowleri and Vibrio vulnificus highlighting evolving waterborne risks; while most recreational sites meet safety standards, experts warn that warmer, shallow, slow-moving waters can foster blooms and bacteria, urging avoidance of bright green or discolored water and keeping warm freshwater out of the nose.
A 9-year-old boy is in serious condition with encephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri after swimming at Kursi Beach on the Sea of Galilee; the Health Ministry has confirmed the amoeba as the cause and says the infection is extremely rare worldwide. The boy is being treated at Rambam Medical Center, and authorities note it cannot be contracted from drinking water or from person-to-person contact. Public guidance urges avoiding water entering the nose (nose plugs recommended), not disturbing the bottom in shallow water, and seeking urgent medical care if symptoms such as fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, or drowsiness occur after water exposure.
As North Carolina heads to lakes and the coast this Labor Day weekend, health officials warn of two rare but potentially deadly water infections: Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) in warm freshwater and Vibrio vulnificus (flesh-eating bacteria) in coastal waters. Although exposure is rare, Naegleria infections are fatal in most brain-penetrating cases (about 97%), and Vibrio infections can be life-threatening (about 1 in 5 deaths). Prevention includes keeping water out of the nose (nose clips, avoid submerging), avoiding stirring up sediment in shallow water, cooking shellfish to 145°F, and covering wounds when in salt or brackish water. North Carolina has reported a teen death tied to Naegleria fowleri and several Vibrio cases this year, underscoring the need for caution while enjoying the water.
A central North Carolina teenager is critically ill with primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. Early symptoms include severe headache, fever and nausea, and the illness can progress quickly; most patients die within about five days. Officials urge precautions for swimming in warm waters, such as preventing water from entering the nose, noting there is no way to eliminate the amoeba from the environment.