Louisiana Girl, 8, Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba

Lillian Smart, 8, of Ruston, Louisiana, died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. Health officials and a family spokesman said she was most likely infected while swimming in Lake Claiborne in northwest Louisiana. She died on Saturday, according to the Guardian report.

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CBS Published 24 August 2026

8-year-old girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection in Louisiana

Lillian Smart, 8, has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family said.

NYT Published 24 August 2026

Louisiana Girl, 8, Dies After Contracting Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba

Lillian Smart most likely contracted the parasite while swimming in a lake in northwest Louisiana, the state Health Department and a family spokesman said.

Guardian Published 23 August 2026

Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana

Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri , likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say An eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne. Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in a public Facebook post on the “Love for Lillian”…

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