Louisiana girl, 8, dies from rare brain-eating amoeba likely linked to lake swim
An 8-year-old from northern Louisiana died over the weekend after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba that state health officials suspect she was exposed to while swimming in a lake near her home.
Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died in the hospital over the weekend shortly after turning 8. She had been in intensive care since last week after being admitted for a fever that progressed to double vision. Her family said the amoeba caused severe brain swelling. In a Facebook post Sunday morning, her parents wrote: "Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus. The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from."
The Louisiana Department of Health said last week that a resident had likely contracted the organism, known as Naegleria fowleri, while swimming in Lake Claiborne, about 30 miles northwest of Ruston. The agency did not identify Lillian, but friends and family confirmed her identity to local news outlets.
Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater and can cause a neurological infection when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose and reaches the brain. Health officials note that swallowing contaminated water does not cause the infection, and the amoeba cannot spread from person to person. The infection is extremely rare, but nearly always fatal.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, just 180 confirmed infections were recorded in the United States between 1937 and 2025. Louisiana has seen three cases in that same period. Most have been in southern and central states, where warm water is more common, but recent research suggests that climate change is warming waterways in northern and midwestern states and expanding the areas where the amoeba can survive.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says early symptoms can include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. The infection can be difficult to detect and progresses rapidly, sometimes leading to stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations and loss of balance.
Before her death, local businesses in Ruston took part in a fundraiser to celebrate Lillian's birthday and donated a share of proceeds to her family. Residents described her as a familiar and joyful presence around town. "She's just always a happy child," one local business owner told CNN affiliate KNOE. "Every time you see her, she has a smile on her face."
"Everyone did everything they could to keep her here," Lillian's parents said on Facebook. "We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next."
The death is the latest in a series of recent infections tied to freshwater swimming. In 2023, a Georgia resident died after contracting the amoeba, and in 2022, a child was Nebraska's first reported death linked to Naegleria fowleri. In both cases, health officials said the patients became infected after swimming in fresh water.
The case underscores the seriousness of the infection and the importance of prevention. Health officials emphasize that freshwater swimmers can lower their risk by keeping their heads above water, using nose clips, and avoiding activities that stir up sediment in warm, shallow areas.