Missouri man who contracted brain-eating amoeba dies, officials say
A Missouri man has died after becoming infected with a brain-eating amoeba, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced Wednesday.
The man died Aug. 19 at a St. Louis-area hospital, according to a news release from DHSS.
DHSS initially announced the man had been diagnosed with Naegleria fowleri, a rare and deadly microscopic amoeba, on Aug. 13.
The amoeba can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), according to a previous news release from DHSS.
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 man was water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days before becoming ill, according to a previous news release.
Although very few people contract 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 contracting PAM, anyone spending time in warm freshwater should hold their nose, 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 news release.
Those who have recently been 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 news release.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM.
