Brain-eating amoeba likely source found in man-made creek at Durham mental health center, state says

A man-made creek outside the El Futuro mental health center in Durham was the most likely source of exposure to Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba that killed 17-year-old Moses Mendoza, according to state investigators and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The Durham County Health Department closed the water feature on Aug. 28, and a “Keep Out” sign remains posted, though no fence or barrier prevents people from entering the area.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said samples collected from the fountain’s storage tank water, rocks, and a fire hydrant at El Futuro tested positive for Naegleria fowleri.

According to El Futuro, the water feature was maintained through chlorine treatments and power washing. It used a recirculating water system with a pump and multiple fountains, but state officials said the water feature was not effectively disinfected.

One shopper at nearby Lakewood Park Plaza, who asked not to be identified, said she never expected the source of the deadly infection would be found in a small, man-made water feature.

“When we heard about the news, we were expecting it to be at Falls Lake or Jordan Lake or maybe even one of the rivers,” she said.

El Futuro provided a statement to ABC11: “Our hearts are broken for the young boy who lost his life and for his family. We are committed to supporting his family and our community through this devastating loss. We will continue to fully cooperate with public health officials. The water feature has been closed since we were first contacted by county officials.”

The Durham County Health Department also told ABC11 that El Futuro never completed the required application, evaluation, and permitting process needed for the water feature.

Another community member said the entire water feature should remain closed. “Maybe shut down the whole creek,” the person said. “I say shut down the whole creek.”

Officials have not announced when or if the man-made creek will reopen, and one resident said the case raises concerns about what precautions are being done to prevent similar incidents in the future.