2-Year-Old Died From Brain-Eating Amoeba After A Visit to A Nevada Hot Spring!

2-Year-Old Died From Brain-Eating Amoeba

The child, identified as Woodrow Bundy, reportedly contracted the infection at Ash Springs, located about 100 miles north of Las Vegas. Initially experiencing flu-like symptoms, the child’s health rapidly deteriorated.

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as a brain-eating amoeba, through testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This single-celled organism thrives in warm freshwater, making hot springs a potential breeding ground. Once it enters the body through the nose, it travels to the brain, causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a severe brain infection that is almost always fatal.

Sadly, this is not the first incident of its kind in Nevada. Last year, another child lost their life due to a brain-eating amoeba infection.

The CDC has reported a total of 157 cases of brain-eating amoeba infection from 1962 through 2022, with a survival rate of only four patients in that period. Most of the victims are boys under the age of 14, according to CDC data.

Symptoms usually appear within one to 12 days after exposure to water containing the amoeba, and death typically occurs one to 18 days after symptoms begin. Signs of infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental state, hallucinations, and coma.

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Brain-Eating Amoeba Risks

The presence of brain-eating amoeba in natural water sources poses a risk for swimmers, especially in warm fresh water. Health officials advise taking precautions to reduce the risk of infection. This includes avoiding jumping or diving into warm freshwater bodies, holding the nose shut or using nose clips while swimming, keeping the head above water, and avoiding submerging the head in hot springs or untreated geothermal waters.

Furthermore, swimmers should refrain from stirring up sediment in shallow, warm freshwater bodies, as the amoeba is more likely to thrive in the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Vigilance and awareness of the risks associated with brain-eating amoebas can help prevent further tragedies in the future.

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