The deadly brain eating amoeba has taken another life.
The family of 14-year-old Michael Riley, Jr. confirmed their son died from naegleria fowleri, or the “brain eating amoeba”, at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
“It is with a heavy heart, that we let everyone know that Michael John Riley Jr. lost his battle on this earth but won a victory for his place in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the family said in a statement on their Facebook page. “Michael fought a courageous fight over the past week, allowing him to move on to be with the Lord for future heavenly tasks, a beautiful set of wings, and a pair of gold running shoes.”
The death is the fourth this month from someone contracting the deadly amoeba.
Riley was also the second child to die at Texas Children’s Hospital from naegleria fowleri this month.
Riley’s family said their son fell ill after a trip with his track team to swim at San Houston State Park. Doctors couldn’t figure out why the young athlete was suffering from headaches that continued to worsen until they were unbearable until one doctor at Texas Children’s recognized the symptoms from the previous victim.
“It is unknown why certain persons become infected with (Naegleria fowleri) while millions of others exposed to warm recreational fresh waters do not, including those who were swimming with people who became infected,” the Centers for Disease Control said.
Only 3 of the 133 Americans known to be infected with the amoeba since 1962 have survived their infection.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed that the deadly brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri was found in the drinking water of the St. Bernard Parish water system.
The parish has been asked to conduct a 60-day “chlorine burn” to kill off the amoeba. The parish said they would comply “out of an abundance of caution.”
“At this point that’s a decision that the DHH has to make. We trust their expertise in this field. We do we feel that the system is fine and this was an anomaly,” said St. Bernard Parish President David Peralta.
“One positive test was at a site at the water treatment plant before the water was treated,” reads a statement from the DHH. “The second positive test occurred at 948 Angela Street, which may have been contaminated by ground water due to a leak at the sampling station.”
“Someone hit it. They probably hit it with a car or tractor or lawn mower-never reported it. It pocketed some water, so when they took the sample some of the standing water infiltrated our line. And that’s what gave us a positive indication,” said St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta.
The DHH says that the water is safe to drink, but that people should avoid getting water in their nose when bathing, washing or swimming because that’s the method the amoeba reaches the brain. Only three people in the world since the discovery of the amoeba have survived an infection.
Meraux homeowner Ashley Jolly told WDSU she was shocked to get an alert about the amoeba in the middle of giving her twin boys a bath.
“They like to play in the water. And they just went through swimming lessons and they’re learning to blow water in and out of their nose and their mouths,” said Jolly.
A 14-year-old Minnesota boy is the nation’s second confirmed 2015 death from a brain eating amoeba.
The family of Hunter Boutain, who died Thursday at University of Minnesota Medical Center, said that it’s likely he caught Naegleria fowleri while swimming at Lake Minnewaska in Pope County, Minnesota.
“Hunter’s condition deteriorated throughout the night and he was declared brain dead this morning. Hunter died surrounded by his family. It is a deeply emotional time for all us. We ask for privacy and prayers as we remember our beloved Hunter,” family spokesman Bryan Boutain said in a statement.
“I thank you all for praying for Hunter,” the teen’s brother Lee Boutain posted on Facebook. “The Lord didn’t want him to stay on earth. As much as I am hurt I know I can’t love him as much as God.”
Hunter’s death is the third in Minnesota from the amoeba. Officials are concerned because the two previous cases, one in 2010 and one in 2012, happened in smaller lakes and in much warmer conditions than where Hunter was believed to have contracted the parasite.
As previously reported, a 21-year-old California woman died in late June from the amoeba after officials say she caught the amoeba “on private land.”
Only three people are known to have survived an infection with Naegleria fowleri.
A 21-year-old California woman is dead after falling victim to a brain eating amoeba.
Health officials would not release the name of the woman but said she likely contracted the infection while swimming on private property. They do not believe that anyone other than family and friends who used the same body of water could be at risk.
The amoeba, known as Naegleria flowleri, thrive in warm freshwater lakes, ponds and hot springs. The infection can take hold of a human when the amoeba travels through the nasal passages and into the brain. Once in the brain, the amoeba will destroy the brain tissue. The victim usually dies within 3 to 18 days.
The Centers for Disease Control says that of 133 cases in the U.S. in the last 52 years, only three people have survived infection. The victim in this case was admitted to Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop, California on June 16th and was diagnosed with meningitis. When she didn’t improve, she was flown to Reno, Nevada where the CDC confirmed the deadly amoeba.
The interesting thing about the amoeba is that while it is widespread, it does not seek a human host.
“It is unknown why certain persons become infected with the amoeba while millions of others exposed to warm recreational fresh waters, including those who were swimming with people who became infected, do not,” Richard Johnson, M.D., of Inyo Public Health said in the report.
The CDC recommends that people avoid poorly maintained or unmaintained freshwater sources including pools, hot springs and ponds.