An eight-year-old girl from Louisiana has passed away after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. The family of Lillian Smart confirmed her death over the weekend following her diagnosis with Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba is often referred to as a ‘brain-eating’ organism, capable of entering the body through the nose and causing a fatal infection.
The Naegleria fowleri amoeba thrives in freshwater environments across the U.S., leading to an average of fewer than 10 cases annually. In a heartfelt message on Facebook, Lillian’s parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared their grief, stating, ‘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 recently announced that Lillian’s case was the state’s first confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection since 2013. They did not disclose Lillian’s identity but noted the infection was likely contracted while she was swimming in Lake Claiborne in northern Louisiana.
Governor Jeff Landry expressed his sadness, stating, ‘Heartbroken over the news of Lillian’s passing.’ The amoeba can cause a deadly infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis when water containing the organism enters the brain through the nose. Statistics show fewer than 180 confirmed infections in the U.S. from 1937 to 2025, with nearly all cases being fatal. This infection cannot spread between people.
Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater sources such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, particularly when the water temperature exceeds 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). It is typically noted in southern areas during summer. However, recent cases have been reported in states like Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota.
The Louisiana Department of Health stated the amoeba is naturally occurring, and no routine environmental testing exists for detecting Naegleria fowleri in water bodies. Last year, a similar tragedy occurred when a 12-year-old boy in South Carolina died from the amoeba infection.
The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative contributed to this report. Report for America is a nonprofit service placing journalists in local newsrooms to report on critical undercovered issues.