8-year-old girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection in Louisiana

An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died from a rare and devastating infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Lillian Smart passed away over the weekend after being diagnosed with the infection, her family confirmed.

Health authorities describe Naegleria fowleri as a single-celled organism that thrives in warm freshwater bodies across the U.S. The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), occurs when the amoeba enters the nose and travels to the brain. It is nearly always fatal, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually in the United States.

Lillian's parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared a public post on Facebook expressing their grief: "Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here."

The Louisiana Department of Health stated that this is the state's first confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection since 2013. The infection was likely contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne in north Louisiana. The amoeba becomes dangerous in water temperatures above 77 degrees Fahrenheit and is most common in the southern U.S. during the summer months.

While the organism is naturally occurring in freshwater, the infection is rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises reducing the risk by holding one's nose or using a clip when entering freshwater or keeping one's head above water. Symptoms of infection can include nausea, vomiting, fever, severe headache, stiff neck, seizures, and altered mental state.

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Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here.