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Brain Eating Amoeba US Map: Historical Data Shows States Impacted
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. A North Carolina teenager is critically ill after contracting a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri , commonly known as a brain-eating amoeba, prompting renewed attention to where the deadly organism has been detected across the United States.
While infections remain extremely uncommon, historical data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) show cases have been reported in multiple states over the decades, with the highest numbers concentrated in the South.
According to CDC data, 173 U.S. cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by Naegleria fowleri , were linked to known exposure between 1937 and 2025. Texas and Florida have recorded the most cases, followed by Virginia and California, though infections have also been reported in northern states.
The amoeba is typically found in warm freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers and can infect people when contaminated water enters the nose, usually during swimming or diving. The North Carolina case comes less than a week after an 8-year-old Louisiana girl died from the same infection, highlighting how even a disease that affects fewer than 10 people annually in the U.S. can draw intense public concern because of its rapid progression and high fatality rate.
Newsweek reached out to the CDC via email for comment.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the case on August 27, saying the patient is receiving medical care while authorities investigate where the exposure occurred. Officials noted that the amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, ponds and rivers, particularly during periods of hot weather.
Officials did not release the patient's identity.
"Our hearts go out to this teen’s family, friends and loved ones as they navigate this difficult time," North Carolina State Epidemiologist Zack Moore said in a press release. "While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S. There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months.”
Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic, single-celled organism that lives naturally in warm freshwater environments, including lakes, rivers, ponds and hot springs. It can cause a rare but devastating infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) when water containing the organism enters a person's nose. The amoeba then travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and triggers severe inflammation. People cannot become infected by drinking contaminated water, and the infection does not spread from person to person.
Although Naegleria fowleri infections are extremely rare, they are almost always fatal. The CDC says fewer than 10 cases are typically reported in the United States each year. Between 1962 and 2024, 167 U.S. cases were reported, with only four known survivors, underscoring the severity of the disease despite its rarity.
Since 1937, Naegleria fowleri infections have occurred in the following states:
Texas leads in infections with 40 since 1937, followed by Florida with 37. Virginia has seen the third-most infections at 18. CDC data showed most cases occurred in males between the ages of 10 and 14. Most infections occurred in July, with August not far behind.
Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater environments, particularly lakes, ponds, rivers and hot springs where water temperatures are elevated during the summer months or after extended periods of hot weather. According to the CDC, infections are most often linked to recreational activities in freshwater when temperatures are high and water levels are low, conditions that can create a more favorable environment for the amoeba.
The organism can also occasionally be found in poorly maintained swimming pools, splash pads and other recreational water venues with inadequate disinfection, as well as in tap water under rare circumstances. It does not live in saltwater, and infections occur when contaminated water is forced up the nose during activities such as swimming, diving, jumping into the water or water-skiing.
For those who choose to swim, wakeboard, or participate in other water sports in lakes, ponds, rivers, or hot springs, the CDC recommends reducing the chance of water entering the nose by using a nose clip or holding the nose shut when jumping or diving, keeping the head above water in naturally hot springs, avoiding water activities during periods of high water temperatures and low water levels, and refraining from stirring up sediment in shallow freshwater areas where the amoeba is more likely to be found.
At home, people should never use tap water for sinus rinses.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kate Nalepinski and Sam Wilson .
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