Health officials identify likely source of rare brain infection that killed NC teen

North Carolina health officials have identified a man-made water feature at El Futuro, a community-based mental health center in Durham County, as the likely source of a rare brain infection that killed a teenager in August.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a report that Naegleria fowleri, often called the brain-eating amoeba, was detected in the water feature in non-viable form, along with visible algal growth and a lack of effective disinfection.

The teenager was admitted to a hospital on Aug. 22 after days of headaches and worsening symptoms. Testing confirmed a Naegleria infection on Aug. 26, and the patient died on Aug. 31, according to the NCDHHS report.

Health officials said interviews with the teen’s family identified several possible exposure locations, including an apartment complex pool in Orange County and the water feature at El Futuro. Both facilities were immediately closed for investigation and sampling.

NCDHHS cautioned that its investigation does not allow the department to conclusively determine the exposure location. However, it concluded that the lack of effective disinfection, visible algal growth, and detection of non-viable N. fowleri support the Durham County location as the likely source.

As of Sept. 15, the water feature remains closed to the public, according to a news release from the department.

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater. It can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue, according to the CDC.

The infection is very rare: only 167 cases were reported in the United States between 1962 and 2024, and fewer than 10 people each year are diagnosed on average.

People can become ill if contaminated water enters the nose. Past cases have been linked to neti pot use, religious practices that involve cleansing nasal passages, and recreational play in contaminated water.

Symptoms can include severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, progressing to stiff neck, seizures, and coma. Symptoms typically begin about five days after exposure but can appear between one and 12 days. Once symptoms begin, the disease can cause death within five days.