North Carolina teen critically injured by rare brain-eating amoeba - FOX Weather

A teenager in central North Carolina has been left critically ill after contracting a rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba found naturally in warm freshwater, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
The teen is currently receiving medical care, and the source of the amoeba remains under investigation by state officials.
State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., expressed sympathy for the teen's family and stressed that while such infections are very rare, the amoeba is present across North Carolina and the U.S., urging swimmers to take precautions during warmer months.
The North Carolina case follows the recent death of an 8-year-old girl who likely contracted the amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne in northern Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Naegleria fowleri typically enters the body through the nose during swimming or diving in freshwater, and has also been detected in tap water, poorly maintained pools, and chlorine wave parks.
Earlier in the year, a study identified traces of the amoeba in freshwater at popular National Parks in Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona, with activities such as swimming, diving, water skiing, and water festivals linked to infections.