Teen's Death Confirmed

A central North Carolina teenager who contracted a brain-eating amoeba has died, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The department confirmed the teenager passed away on Monday, August 31, and extended condolences to his family and community.

State Epidemiologist Zack Moore expressed sympathy, saying, "Our hearts go out to this teen's family, friends, and loved ones as they navigate this difficult time." He added, "While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the US."

The teenager's name and exact location were not released to protect the family's privacy. Officials are investigating where the teen contracted the infection, with NCDHHS coordinating closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments.

The Amoeba and Its Effects

The illness was caused by Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled organism found in warm freshwater that destroys brain tissue. It is naturally present in lakes, ponds, and rivers, and thrives in warm freshwater environments, including hot springs. The amoeba is not found in salt water or correctly maintained pools, according to the CDC.

Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose, leading to primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The infection is extremely rare, infecting fewer than 10 people annually in the United States, but it is almost always fatal. Between 1962 and 2024, there were 167 reported cases in the United States, and only four people survived, according to the CDC.

Recent Cases and Context

The North Carolina teen's death comes nine days after an 8-year-old girl, Lillian Smart, died of a suspected Naegleria fowleri infection on August 22, after swimming in Lake Claiborne in north Louisiana. In 2019, an infection was reported in Cumberland County, North Carolina. In 2016, a college student died of an infection after capsizing a raft at the S. National Whitewater Center.

Previous reporting by The Guardian has noted that rising temperatures associated with climate change have caused the rare illness to be seen in the Midwest, along with the South. The infections typically occur in hot weather, as the amoeba grows best at 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Family's GoFundMe and Privacy

A GoFundMe page purportedly established by the child's mother states that he received treatment at a hospital in Chapel Hill after what started as severe headaches. The page, written in Spanish by Monica Mendoza, describes her son Moises Ponce Mendoza as "fighting for his life" in UNC Hospitals. The GoFundMe originally asked for $7,500 for medical expenses; as of midday September 1, it had raised $9,700 of a $10,000 goal.

NCDHHS did not name the teenager in the original reporting or the confirmation of death, and no further information was released to protect the family's privacy.

Safety Precautions

While it isn't possible to entirely eliminate Naegleria fowleri from the environment, some safety precautions can help, according to NCDHHS. These include preventing water from going up the nose by holding the nose shut, using nose clips, or keeping the head above water in fresh water; avoiding putting the head underwater in hot springs and thermal waters; avoiding jumping into warm freshwater during periods of high water temperatures combined with low water levels; and avoiding disturbing the sediment during water-related activities.