Missouri resident infected with brain-eating amoeba after trip to Lake of the Ozarks
A Missouri resident has been infected with a brain-eating amoeba, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced Wednesday.
The adult resident is being treated for Naegleria fowleri, a rare and deadly microscopic amoeba that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), according to the press release.
The person is currently in the intensive care unit at a Missouri hospital, according to the press release.
The amoeba typically lives in warm pools of freshwater, including lakes, rivers, ponds and hot springs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
PAM is contracted when water containing the amoeba travels up the nose to the brain, according to the CDC. Fewer than 10 people typically get PAM in the United States per year.
While unconfirmed, preliminary information suggests the resident was water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days before becoming ill, according to the press release.
Although very few people get PAM, it’s nearly always deadly, according to the CDC. Between 1962 and 2024, 167 cases of PAM were reported in the United States. Only four people survived.
To reduce the risk of PAM, anyone spending time in warm freshwater should hold their nose shut, use nose clips, avoid putting their head under water, avoid water-related activities when water temperature is high and avoid stirring up sediment, according to the press release.
Those who have recently swam in warm freshwater should seek medical assistance if they experience severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status and hallucinations, according to the press release.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM.
