ST. LOUIS — A man is battling for his life at a St. Louis-area hospital after being infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba after water skiing at the Lake of Ozarks last week, according to state health officials.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported on Tuesday that the Missouri resident has a laboratory-confirmed infection of Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, river and ponds.

The man’s symptoms began Friday, and he has been hospitalized since Sunday. No other information about the victim was provided.

The amoeba is particularly active when water temperatures exceed 77 degrees. The water temperature in Lake of the Ozarks ranges from 75 to 86 degrees in August, according to fishing websites.

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