Louisiana Girl, 8, Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba After Lake Swim

Lillian Smart, 8, of Ruston, Louisiana, died on 23 August — one day after her birthday — from Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater and enters through the nose. The Louisiana Department of Health linked her exposure to Lake Claiborne. She had been hospitalized since 15 August. Only about 180 US cases have been recorded since 1937.