In a heartbreaking incident, a 12-year-old boy tragically lost his life last week in South Carolina after contracting a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba during a recreational swim in a local reservoir. The boy, identified as Jaysen Carr, was a middle school student who fell victim to the infectious organism known as Naegleria fowleri, according to a statement released by the Carr family’s attorney, Tyler D. Bailey.
Jaysen Carr reportedly contracted the amoeba after swimming in Lake Murray, a popular reservoir located approximately 15 miles from Columbia, South Carolina. His untimely death occurred on July 18, as confirmed by the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital during a briefing on Thursday. The exact date of his swimming excursion remains unclear, raising concerns about safety protocols in recreational water bodies.
The brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is known to thrive in warm freshwater environments. Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, indicated that this amoeba is "ubiquitous to any fresh water in the state of South Carolina" and across much of the Southeastern United States. As temperatures rise, the concentration of this organism in water bodies tends to increase, particularly when water levels decrease, which heightens the risk of infection.
Although infections from Naegleria fowleri are almost always fatal, they are also extremely rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded only 167 cases of infection in the United States from 1962 to 2024, with the overwhelming majority resulting in fatalities. Dr. Burch reassured the public by stating, "For most people who come in contact with this type of amoeba, it causes no harm whatsoever. Most of us have been exposed to this amoeba."
It is important to note that individuals cannot contract the amoeba through drinking contaminated water or other forms of exposure unless water enters the nasal passages. Symptoms of infection can be challenging to detect due to their rarity, but common indicators include headaches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. The amoeba receives its nickname from its destructive effect on brain tissue, as it feeds on the brain after being forced into the sinuses through water.
Recent cases of Naegleria fowleri infections have highlighted the dangers associated with warm freshwater swimming. For instance, in 2022, a child died after swimming in a Nebraska river, while a 6-year-old boy from the Gulf Coast of Texas lost his life in 2020, allegedly due to exposure from a water hose or a city splash pad. Moreover, a man in North Carolina died in 2019 after visiting a local water park. The CDC emphasizes that such infections from water parks and splash pads are rare and typically occur only when water is inadequately chlorinated.
Infections can also arise from the use of nasal irrigation devices, such as neti pots. A report published by the CDC revealed that a 71-year-old woman from Texas died after using a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RV at a campground. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against using tap water for nasal rinsing and recommends using filtered, boiled, or otherwise sterilized water instead.
The tragic death of Jaysen Carr serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with swimming in warm freshwater bodies. It is crucial for families to stay informed about the risks of Naegleria fowleri infections and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during recreational activities. Awareness and preventive measures can help protect against this rare but deadly organism.
