Coverage dated August 23, 2026 to August 25, 2026

8-year-old girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater

Headline from WFLA, on the newest of 2 developments

An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says.

WFLA's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. 8-year-old Louisiana girl dies after brain-eating Amoeba infection

    Headline from KLFY Lafayette ·

  2. Newest

    8-year-old girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater

    Headline from WFLA ·

Reports & sources

29 articles, oldest first.

  1. Arklatex Home Page

    7-year-old Louisiana girl dies after brain-eating Amoeba infection (opens Arklatex Home Page)

    Published

    Arklatex Home Page's feed description

    A 7-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, died from a brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba after swimming in a lake.

  2. BRPROUD Baton Rouge

    8-year-old Louisiana girl dies after brain-eating Amoeba infection (opens BRPROUD Baton Rouge)

    Published

    BRPROUD Baton Rouge's feed description

    A 7-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, died from a brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba after swimming in a lake.

  3. The Guardian

    Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    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.

  4. Fox News

    Louisiana girl, 8, dies after contracting suspected brain-eating amoeba linked to lake swim (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Lillian Smart's family says the 8-year-old's brain injuries were too severe to survive after contracting Naegleria fowleri while swimming in a lake.

  5. KEYT Santa Barbara

    8-year-old dies from rare brain-eating amoeba likely contracted while swimming in Louisiana lake (opens KEYT Santa Barbara)

    Published

    KEYT Santa Barbara's feed description

    By Diego Mendoza, CNN (CNN) — An 8-year-old has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba believed to have been encountered while swimming in a lake near her home, her family and health officials said.

  6. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Girl, 8, dies from extremely rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    FILE — This photomicrograph depicts the histopathologic characteristics associated with a case of amebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri parasites.

  7. Myarklamiss

    Ruston 8-year-old dies after contracting rare brain amoeba infection (opens Myarklamiss)

    Published

    Myarklamiss's feed description

    RUSTON, La. (KTVE/KARD) -- On Saturday, August 22, 2026, a young girl from Ruston, La., tragically passed away after fighting a rare brain amoeba infection, according to her family. Lillian Smart, a fun-loving 8-year-old, was hospitalized on August 15, 2026, after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a ra…

  8. Bangor Daily News

    8-year-old Louisiana girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater (opens Bangor Daily News)

    Published

    Bangor Daily News's feed description

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says. Lillian Smart died over the weekend after being diagnosed with an infection from Naegleria fowleri, according to Kyle Roberts, a spokesperson for …

  9. FOX 8 Cleveland

    'We are devastated': 8-year-old dies from rare brain-eating amoeba after swimming in lake (opens FOX 8 Cleveland)

    Published

    FOX 8 Cleveland's feed description

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says.

  10. CBS News

    8-year-old girl dies from brain-eating amoeba infection in Louisiana (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

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

  11. Gizmodo

    8-Year-Old Girl in Louisiana Dies From ‘Brain-Eating’ Amoeba After Lake Swim (opens Gizmodo)

    Published

    Gizmodo's feed description

    Though incredibly rare, Naegleria fowleri infections are nearly always fatal.

  12. Just the News

    8-year-old girl in Louisiana dies from brain-eating amoeba infection, family says (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    The amoeba thrives in freshwater bodies around the U.S. and can enter the body through the nose. The infection it produces is almost always fatal. There are, on average, fewer than 10 cases annually.

  13. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    8-year-old girl dies from rare brain-eating amoeba (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

    Published

    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says.

  14. WFLA

    8-year-old girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.