Tragedy as girl, 8, dies in Louisiana after 'contracting brain-eating amoeba'

The parents of the girl announced their heartbreaking loss. 22:27, Mon, Aug 24, 2026 Updated: 22:27, Mon, Aug 24, 2026 Lillian Smart died aged 8 (Image: Love for Lillian Facebook via AP)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 said. Lillian Smart died over the weekend after being diagnosed with an infection from Naegleria fowleri, according to Kyle Roberts, a spokesperson for her family.Health authorities describe the infection as a “brain-eating amoeba” that thrives in freshwater bodies around the US and can shoot up the nose and cause an infection that almost always proves fatal. On average, there are fewer than 10 cases annually in the US. Get the latest news from around the worl