Health
North Carolina teenager dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba
A teenager in North Carolina has died from a Naegleria fowleri infection, state health officials confirmed.
The short version
- A North Carolina teenager, identified by his mother as Moises Ponce Mendoza, died on Aug. 31 after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba.
- The organism is commonly found in warm freshwater and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a condition with a fatality rate over 97%.
- Health officials recommend using nose clips, keeping heads above warm freshwater, and avoiding disturbing sediment during hot weather to reduce infection risks.
Key facts
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed a teenager died on Aug. 31, 2026, after contracting a Naegleria fowleri infection.[The Guardian]
- The teenager's mother, Monica Mendoza, identified him as Moises Ponce Mendoza and stated he was initially evaluated at a Burlington hospital before being admitted to the University of North Carolina hospital's emergency department.[The Guardian]
- Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, an infection with a fatality rate exceeding 97% according to the CDC.[The Guardian]
- Fewer than 10 cases of Naegleria fowleri are typically reported in the U.S. each year.[The Guardian]
Sources
- North Carolina teenager dies from rare infection caused by brain-eating amoebaThe Guardian - World