Amoeba blamed for swimming death in Florida

[Ronan Kelly]

Amoeba warning: Brevard teen fighting for her life after swim

Friday, Aug. 12, 2011. By Jason Wheeler, Reporter
Last Updated: Friday, August 12, 2011 7:55 AM

MIMS --
A 16-year-old girl is in serious condition after health officials said she contracted a possible case of amoebic encephalitis.

Now, the Brevard County Health Department has issued a warning for everyone.

Health officials said they believe the teen became infected with an amoeba while swimming in the waters near her home in Mims.

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http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/august/294555/Amoeba-warning:-Brevard-teen-fighting-for-her-life-after-swim

[Pathfinder]

Amoeba blamed for swimming death in Florida

Amoeba blamed for swimming death in Florida

By Barbara Liston

ORLANDO, Fla | Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:20pm EDT

ORLANDO, Fla (Reuters) - A dangerous amoeba that thrives in warm, freshwater bodies in the heat of summer caused the recent death of a 16-year-old Central Florida girl, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed on Monday.

Courtney Nash died Saturday, 10 days after she, her brother and four friends went swimming August 3 in the St. Johns River on Florida's east coast, her uncle, Thomas Uzel, said at a news conference.
...
Out of 118 people reported to have had the amoeba infection since 1962, only one survived, Yoder said. Most reported cases have been in the southern states of Florida and Texas, he said.

Yoder said the average age of the amoeba victims is 12. He said experts believe young people are more susceptible because they are more likely to jump into the water, dive to the bottom and otherwise play underwater in ways that force water, and potentially amoebas, up their noses.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/15/us-amoeba-death-idUSTRE77E5ZN20110815