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    The Lookout

    ‘Brain-eating amoeba’ claims second victim this month

    A parasite known as the "brain-eating amoeba" has claimed its second young American victim this month.

    Christian Strickland, a 9-year-old from Henrico County in Virginia contracted an infection after visiting a fishing camp in his state. He died of meningitis on August 5.

    This week, health department officials confirmed that the deadly amoeba--officially known as "Naegleria fowleri"--was to blame.

    "Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer," Dr. Keri Hall of the Virginia Department of Health, told The Richmond Times-Dispatch. "It's important that people be aware of . . . safe swimming messages."

    Earlier this month, Courtney Nash succumbed to the brain-eating amoeba after diving off a dock into the St. John's River at her grandmother's house in Florida.

    According to her mother Patricia Nash, Courtney decided before her death to become an organ donor. "I didn't get my miracle, but she has performed other miracles," Patricia told local station WESH. "If we can save other people's lives so they don't have to go through what I just went though, this could be a blessing in disguise."

    Usually found in warm, stagnant water in freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers, the parasite "enters the nasal passages ... and migrates to the olfactory nerves, eventually invading the brain," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It almost always causes meningitis. Symptoms include fever, nausea, stiff neck and a frontal headache.

    Thirty-two infections of the parasite were reported in the U.S. between 2001 and 2010, CDC spokeswoman Christine Pearson told The Lookout, adding that infections are almost always deadly. That included two children in Phoenix who are thought to have contracted it through the domestic water supply in 2002.

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    3,812 comments

    • Sammie Jo  •  8 mths ago
      oh shutup your acting like a bunch of idiots. do us all a favor and go jump into the amoeba infested waters you twit!
    • wihaga  •  9 mths ago
      It is scary... Be more cautious when swimming on a warm water swimming pool or fresh water lake...
    • Robert  •  9 mths ago
      It's awful.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  9 mths ago
      RE:estate of Dale J Keen Jr. Elkhart IN. 1995 how did ATT. Curtis Hill & Dawn Windbigler of Edwardsburg MI. skip PROBATE.? I do believe they broke some FEDERAL & STATE LAWS.
      • G.T. 9 mths ago
        Wrong story dumba**
    • RonJ  •  9 mths ago
      Oh great this; I read about this, maybe around a year ago. I thought wonderful another thing to worry about. Brain eating "What", what's next the sky falling. I do not mean to be mean but look at it this world looks like a bad sci fi special. I mean we have had lakes boil name it war after war. Banks owning people rather than human and = fair rights. Now brain eating monsters. And the thought of mr I look like a frail Arnold; Rick Perry the brainwash of all things as possible president do we have to move. I mean how many leaders have I had to sit back listening to. Here is a theme google it; Population control, and this one to Phema camps. Does our media want us to live in nothing but fear. Seems that way peace I can hardly stand looking at the garbage, it is bad enough that banks own the US. rather that freedom. And freedom doesn't own so I thought = free will right... This must be film and I must be how about this all of us just act at this point. When will we see fast paced viral people watch they will print that soon. The media looks like National Enquirer; remember that one. I am out, hopefully when I go out not to soon will I have to wear a real bio hazzard mask. I mean they are not talking on the leak that happened in Japan it is still leaking we breath in how much plutonium a day. Sick this place is getting, sorry I am not anti american I anti bull _ _ _ _ . Peace.
      • Gabba 9 mths ago
        Dude. It's called punctuation. Learn it.
    • Palabrica  •  9 mths ago
      very sad
    • Paid Poster  •  9 mths ago
      If Sarah Palin went into this lake she'd give amoebas an std!
    • John738330  •  9 mths ago
      Agreed Hughe. Incredibly bad taste
    • Hughe  •  9 mths ago
      Ugh. Even an article about kids dying gets comments about politics.
    • RitaFeyser  •  9 mths ago
      ...actually, the more I look at your idiot in the white house, Bush looks better and better.....
    • The Homster  •  9 mths ago
      I got it and the docs gave me 50yrs to live...
    • GBC  •  9 mths ago
      Send Sarah Palin in to clean the lake - the amoeba will never be able to find her brain either.
    • Fish  •  9 mths ago
      If all this thing feeds on is brain matter most yahoo users should not worry about going swimming.
    • Kup Kaque  •  9 mths ago
      Make yourself familiar with the initial symptoms of the brain-eating amoeba infestation. Initially, you begin to use malapropisms. Then you slowly develop an accent that sounds remarkably like that of a native Texan. Finally-- and this is diagnostic of the brain-eating amoeba-- in almost every way, but the red tie, you become Rick Perry. It's a horrible disease! Horrible.
      • BeatClapper 9 mths ago
        Everyone living in Texas seems to not have the same financial issues as the rest of the country. It's called nigsulation.
    • Ewuziem Chika  •  9 mths ago
      i wish it never happened, especially to innocent kids who were jst havin fun
    • Felicity  •  9 mths ago
      what then is the way out?
      • Joe 9 mths ago
        Don't get water in your nose, ears, or mouth when you swim.
    • Berserker  •  9 mths ago
      too bad it doesn't seek out racists
    • Realist  •  9 mths ago
      I'm just wondering if there is a way of detecting its presence in the waters.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  9 mths ago
      thats sad - poor kids
    • Smart Lady  •  9 mths ago
      The EPA is very good in many areas; however extremely stupid in other areas like the spotted owl and drilling in the far, far north wilderness. People jobs, and the economy are just a little more important than some lizard, fish or owl.
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