Central Texas 5th Grader Dies of Brain-Eating Amoeba After Swimming in Brazos River

Fort Worth, TX (WBAP/KLIF) – A 10-year girl from Bosque County has died, 8-days after being infected by a brain-eating amoeba.

The parents of Lily Mae Avant say the 5th grader came down with the illness shortly after swimming in the Brazos River last Sunday.

Our media partner, WFAA-TV reports the young girl was being treated at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, passed away this morning.

Shortly after swimming in the river, the youngster began suffering from a headache and fever, and quickly began deteriorating.

Only 4 people in the last 50-years who came down with the illness have survived.

The amoeba enters travel to the brain after enter the body through the nose.

(CDC)

(Copyright 2019 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the WFAA-TV)