Rare brain-eating amoeba infection kills Georgia resident, health department says

A Georgia resident died from a brain-eating amoeba likely contracted from a freshwater pond or lake, the Georgia Department of Public Health said in a statement Friday.

The infection, a rare one called Naegleria fowleri, is often known as the “brain-eating amoeba” because it can destroy brain tissue after it enters the body, the statement said. The amoeba often enters the body when water goes up the person’s nose.

It was unclear in the statement where the person died or where the amoeba might have been contracted. The death is just the sixth known case of the amoeba since 1962, DPH said.

The Department of Health said Naegleria fowleri is not found in saltwater or in treated drinking water and that there is no natural test for the amoeba.

Symptoms of the infection could include severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting and progress to stiff neck, seizures and coma that can lead to death. Death can come within five days of infection.

While the infection is very rare, DPH advised summer swimmers to take precautions when in warm bodies of water, including avoiding jumping into the water and holding your nose when going under the water.

No other details about the death were available in the statement. We will update this story when more details become available.