Teenager who contracted brain-eating disease dies

A Texas teenager who was attacked by brain-eating amoeba after swimming in a lake with his track team on August 13 has died. On Saturday, family of Michael Riley Jr., announced on their Facebook page about the sad news.

The family shared the news on Saturday night on their Facebook page on which they regularly updated about the condition of Michael. “It is with a heavy heart, that we let everyone know that Michael John Riley Jr. lost his battle on this earth but won a victory for his place in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ”, said the family.

This brain disease happens after a person gets exposed to a single-celled organism known as Naegleria fowleri, known as the brain-eating amoeba. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the organism is found in fresh water like lakes, rivers and hot springs.

The organism enters through nose in a person. But the CDC has said that contracting the brain disease is rare. The organism is most commonly found in the southern United States in the summers, because at that time the temperatures are the highest.

Since 1962, in total 133 have been known to be infected with it and out of it, just three were able to survive. On August 19, Michael woke up with a headache and slight fever. His mother took him to a local clinic and doctors were not able to make correct diagnosis.

Later, doctors at the Texas Children Hospital's West Campus found that he has contracted the brain-eating disease.