An 8-year-old girl from Louisiana, Lillian Smart, has died due to an infection caused by the extremely rare brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. This tragic event occurred over the weekend, as confirmed by a family spokesperson.

Health experts explain that this amoeba, often referred to as the ‘brain-eating amoeba’, thrives in warm freshwater environments across the United States. Once it enters through the nasal passages, it causes a brain infection that is almost always fatal. Annually, the U.S. records fewer than ten such cases.

In a heartfelt message shared publicly, Lillian’s parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, expressed their sorrow. “Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus,” they wrote, highlighting that the damage to her brain was too severe for recovery, despite all efforts by medical professionals.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported that this is the first confirmed case of Naegleria fowleri infection in the state since 2013, though they did not officially name Lillian due to privacy policies, as noted by spokesperson Stacey Grow. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his condolences on social media, sharing his heartbreak over the news.

According to the health department, the infection likely occurred while Lillian was swimming in Lake Claiborne, located in north Louisiana. The amoeba typically becomes dangerous in water temperatures above 77 degrees Fahrenheit and is predominantly a summer threat in the southern United States. Recently, cases have also emerged in states like Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota.

Historically, between 1937 and 2025, there have been about 180 confirmed cases of this infection in the U.S., almost all resulting in death. This infection is non-transmissible between individuals.

The amoeba resides in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, canals, and ponds across the U.S. The Louisiana Department of Health indicated that there is no standard environmental testing for the presence of Naegleria fowleri in these waters.

Last year, a similar case involved a 12-year-old boy in South Carolina who succumbed to the infection caused by the same amoeba, highlighting the rare but severe threat this organism poses.