A North Carolina teenager has died from a rare infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, with his mother stating that he was sent home from a local hospital without receiving adequate care.
Moises Ponce Mendoza was identified by his mother, Monica Mendoza, as the patient who contracted the amoeba, commonly found in warm freshwater. According to Mendoza, her son began experiencing severe headaches, prompting her to take him to a hospital in Burlington. She recounted that a doctor saw him briefly and advised they go home, after which his condition deteriorated rapidly.
The following morning, Mendoza took her son to the University of North Carolina's emergency department, where doctors identified the Naegleria fowleri infection. "From that moment on, our lives changed completely," Mendoza stated. "Moises is in a coma, and doctors are doing everything possible to fight this illness and give him a chance to pull through."
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed the death on Thursday, stating that the critically ill patient was receiving medical care. The department extended its condolences to the family and community.
Moises' older brother, Elmer Mendoza, confirmed his sibling's death in social media posts, writing, "Descanse en paz (Rest in Peace) lil brother will love you forever your a real fighter bro rest en paradise love you."
State epidemiologist Zack Moore noted that while such infections are rare, they serve as a reminder that Naegleria fowleri is present in North Carolina and across the U.S. He advised that steps can be taken to reduce the risk of infection while swimming in warmer months.
The NCDHHS stated that the amoeba cannot be eliminated from the environment. Recommended safety precautions include avoiding hot springs, plugging the nose when underwater, and refraining from jumping or diving into warm freshwater. The amoeba is fatal if it enters the brain through the nose but does not cause illness if swallowed.
Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection typically begin with severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, progressing to a stiff neck, seizures, and coma. The disease can be fatal within approximately five days.
This case follows a similar incident in Louisiana, where an eight-year-old girl, Lillian Smart, died on August 22 after contracting the amoeba, likely from swimming in Lake Claiborne. Her family stated that the injuries to her brain were too severe for her body to recover.
The NCDHHS is investigating the source of the amoeba in the North Carolina case. Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm water and grows best at 115 degrees Fahrenheit.