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What is Naegleria Fowleri, a Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba That Killed a 2-Year-Old in the US?
This rare brain-eating amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, is typically found in swimming pools, freshwater lakes, rivers, and soil. Unfortunately, Woodrow Turner Bundy, a 2-year-old from Nevada, US, tragically lost his life on July 19 after battling an infection from this brain-eating amoeba for nearly seven days. Naegleria fowleri is extremely small, like most amoebas, and can only be seen under a microscope. According to the Center for Disease Prevention, this amoeba infects people when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose. This usually occurs during activities such as swimming, diving, or submerging the head in fresh water, like lakes and rivers. Once inside the body, the amoeba travels to the brain, destroys brain tissue, and causes a severe infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
All About Naegleria Fowleri
The brain-eating amoeba, formally known as Naegleria fowleri, was discovered in 1965. It typically exists in warm freshwater bodies or untreated, contaminated waters. When it enters the human body, it causes a rare but deadly infection and inflammation in the brain, ultimately consuming brain tissue. Doctors refer to this disease as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The only way to contract it is by having contaminated water with the brain-eating amoeba enter through the nose.
Symptoms of Brain-Eating Amoeba
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Loss of appetite
- Seizures
- Fever
- Nausea
In severe cases, hallucinations, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, and loss of taste may also occur. It is important to maintain clean and hygienic surroundings to prevent this rare brain-eating amoeba, as proper treatment is still being researched.
What Happened to a 2-Year-Old in Nevada?
According to the New York Post, Briana, Woodrow’s mother, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, stating, “Woodrow Turner Bundy returned victoriously to our father in heaven at 2:56 am. He is my hero, and I will forever be grateful to God for giving me the best baby boy on earth, and I am grateful to know that I will have that boy in heaven someday.” It is reported that Woodrow’s parents became concerned when he exhibited flu-like symptoms last week. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where doctors initially believed he had meningitis due to the similarities in symptoms. Sadly, the 2-year-old passed away one day later.
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