An 8-year-old girl from Louisiana has tragically passed away after being infected by a rare, brain-eating amoeba. This amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, is typically found in warm freshwater environments. The girl’s family has shared this heartbreaking news.
Lillian Smart died over the weekend. She was diagnosed with an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba is known to thrive in freshwater bodies across the U.S. It can enter the body through the nose, leading to a devastating infection that is often fatal. On average, the U.S. sees fewer than 10 such cases each year.
Her parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, expressed their sorrow on Facebook, stating, “Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus.” They highlighted that the damage to her brain was too severe to overcome despite all efforts made to save her.
The Louisiana Department of Health revealed that this is the first confirmed case of Naegleria fowleri in the state since 2013. Governor Jeff Landry expressed his heartbreak over the loss on social media.
Health officials suggest the infection occurred when Lillian was swimming in Lake Claiborne, located in northern Louisiana. Naegleria fowleri can lead to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a typically fatal condition when infected water enters the brain through the nose. There have been about 180 confirmed cases in the U.S. from 1937 to 2025. The infection is not transmissible between people.
The amoeba is found in various warm freshwater sources like lakes, rivers, and ponds. It becomes dangerous in water warmer than 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), predominantly appearing in the southern U.S. during summer. Recently, cases have been reported in Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Naegleria fowleri is naturally occurring, and no standard testing exists for it in water bodies. Last year, a similar case claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy in South Carolina.
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