Louisiana Girl Dies of Brain-Eating Amoeba, First Since 2013

An eight-year-old girl, Lillian Smart of Ruston, Louisiana, died from a Naegleria fowleri brain infection after likely contracting it while swimming at Lake Claiborne, marking a rare fatal case in the state and the first confirmed Louisiana case since 2013. Authorities note the amoeba thrives in warm freshwater and infections are almost always deadly, with about 180 known U.S. cases since 1937. Her family’s public posts and a local fundraiser highlighted the tragedy, as community members supported the family and celebrated her birthday with a healing effort dubbed Love for Lillian. State officials, including Gov. Jeff Landry, and federal health figures emphasized the rarity of the disease and urged awareness of the risks of warm freshwater exposure. The coverage underscored the emotional response from Ruston’s community and ongoing public health guidance on this rare infection.