Who was Lillian Smart, the eight-year-old girl who died after being infected by the 'brain-eating' parasite while bathing in a lake?

An eight-year-old girl has died in Louisiana (United States) after contracting a rare infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, popularly known as the "brain-eating amoeba". According to health authorities, the child may have contracted the microscopic parasite while swimming in a lake near her home .

The victim, Lillian Smart, a resident of Ruston, died in a hospital just one day after celebrating her eighth birthday.

'The news was confirmed by her family through a social media post, later reported by outlets such as CNN and The Guardian. "Last night Lillian passed from our arms into the arms of Jesus," her family wrote. "The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover. Everyone did everything possible to save her. We are devastated and do not know how to move forward" , they added.'

The Louisiana Department of Health reported on August 19 a case of Naegleria fowleri infection in a state resident, whose exposure to the organism is believed to have occurred while swimming in Lake Claiborne, located about 48 kilometers northwest of Ruston. Although authorities did not initially reveal the patient's identity, family members and close relatives later confirmed to local media that it was Lillian.

The "brain-eating" bacteria: Naegleria fowleri

It is a microscopic organism that lives in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds . Infection occurs when contaminated water enters through the nose, allowing the amoeba to reach the brain. Once there, it can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an extremely rare disease, but with a very high mortality rate .

Although cases are rare, health authorities remind that the risk increases during the warmer months and recommend exercising extreme caution in warm or hot freshwater , especially when diving or engaging in activities that facilitate water entering through the nostrils.