Missouri Resident Dies from Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection After Lake Water Skiing

A Missouri resident has died from a rare and nearly always fatal brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba after water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), occurs when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain and cause severe tissue damage. Symptoms progress rapidly, often leading to death within about five days, with a mortality rate around 98%. While fewer than 10 cases are reported annually in the U.S., health officials warn that Naegleria fowleri is present in warm freshwater across the country, especially during hot periods that raise water temperatures. The infection is not contagious between people and cannot be contracted by swallowing water, only through nasal exposure. Authorities continue to investigate the source of exposure and advise caution for recreational water users in warm freshwater environments.