Tragic Death of Two-Year-Old Linked to Brain-Eating Amoeba at Nevada Hot Springs

A two-year-old boy from Nevada has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba infection believed to have been acquired at a local hot springs. The child became ill after swimming in Ash Springs and passed away in Las Vegas. Naegleria fowleri, the amoeba responsible, enters the body through the nose and thrives in warm environments. The CDC states that the infection is usually fatal, with only four survivors reported since 1962. Most infections occur after swimming or submerging the head underwater. The CDC advises avoiding water-related activities in warm fresh water to reduce the risk of infection.