Teen critically ill, infected with ‘brain-eating amoeba,’ health department says

A rare brain infection has left a teenager critically ill. The infection is caused by an amoeba that can be fatal. State health officials have reported the case, but details are limited to protect the teen's privacy.

The condition is known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis. It is typically fatal, with only a few reported survivors in the US.

For more information, the public can refer to the original report, which notes the infection's rarity and severity, with fewer than 10 cases occurring annually in the US.