Breaking News | Florida Boy, 13 Years Old, Deaths In A Brain-Eating Amoeba After Holiday

Youth Florida The boy died during his summer vacation after getting sick with a rare brain-eating amoeba he encountered during his vacation at a campsite.

The Tanner Lakewall family said they died on August 2 after a family trip to a North Florida campsite with a water park and lake.

“He was someone you always wanted to be with,” said Palatka’s Travis Walls. News4Jax About his son.

“He was very active. He loved the outdoors. He loves hunting and fishing,” added his mother Alicia Whitehill.

They said Tanner began experiencing symptoms just two days after swimming with family and friends.

“Nausea, vomiting, and a pretty bad headache,” Travis said, adding that Tanner also had a stiff neck.

The two took their son to the Putnam Community Medical Center, where doctors diagnosed Tanner with streptococcal pharyngitis.

But Travis and Alicia felt that their son’s illness was more than that.

“Finally, I was pretty frustrated. She was indignant at this point,” Travis told the publication.

“I said,” What do you know? Unhook him. Do whatever you need. We carry him ourselves. I’m standing at the front door Come outside. Take him to where we have to go. “”

They drove for an hour to UF Health in Gainesville, where Tanner was placed on a ventilator and doctors made tragic discoveries.

“They said,” I’m sorry, your son doesn’t have bacterial meningitis. He has a parasitic amoeba and there is no cure, “Travis said.

The parasitic amoeba was Naegleria fowleri, or a “brain-eating amoeba” found in warm freshwater that can cause a brain infection, typically called primary amoeba meningoencephalitis.

It can also be found in swimming pools that are low in contaminated tap water and chlorine.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Negrelia faureli infects people when water containing amoeba enters the body through the nose.”

“This usually happens when people swim or dive in warm freshwater areas such as lakes and rivers. Naegleria fowleri ameba then travels to the nose, where it destroys brain tissue. ..

The symptoms Tanner experienced were common to Negrelia faureli, including headache, vomiting, fever, and nausea.

“Subsequent symptoms include stiff shoulders, confusion, lack of attention to people and their surroundings, imbalance, seizures, and hallucinations,” the CDC said.

“After the onset of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and usually dies within about 5 days (range 1-12 days).”

By August 2, Tanner had lost brain activity and his parents decided to remove him from life support.

‘People need to be aware that this amoeba in hot water from July to the second half of September, it can lift your nose. It can dive. You can do swimming, water sports, skiing, and much more, “says Travis.

Travis and Alicia hope that the tragedy that hurts their internal organs will help other parents become aware and prevent the occurrence of other similar incidents.

“So my parents are aware. Maybe they weren’t thinking about it.” We grew up swimming in ponds and streams. “

They want warning signs that warn them to place potential hazards near hot water locations, especially in the summer.

Tanner’s family said they might hire a lawyer to investigate the death of their son.

The Putnam Community Medical Center said in a statement to the family that they were condolenced and unable to make a final diagnosis.

“The death of a loved one is tragic, and our condolences are with our family,” a spokesperson wrote.

‘Our doctor advised the family that further evaluation was needed. However, the recommendation was rejected and the family left the facility before the diagnosis was possible. Due to privacy law, we cannot elaborate on this matter any further.

Tanner is believed to be the second person to be infected with Negrelia faureli in Florida this summer.

In July, the Florida Department of Health announced that a case had been reported in Hillsborough County.

From 2009 to 2018, the CDC recorded 34 infections nationwide. Of these cases, 30 were infected with recreational water, 3 were infected after nasal irrigation with infected tap water, and 1 was contaminated tap water used in backyard slip and slide. Infected through.

The mortality rate of Naegleria fowleri is 97%, and only 4 of the 145 known infections between 1962 and 2018 are alive.

The Ministry of Health announced 16 cases and two deaths in Florida this year. In 2019, there were 27 cases and 2 deaths.