KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — A Missouri resident has been diagnosed with a laboratory-confirmed infection of Naegleria fowleri, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced Wednesday.

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic single-celled, free-living ameba that can cause a rare, deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as a "brain-eating" infection.

DHSS said typically, fewer than 10 people a year in the United States get PAM.

The Missouri patient is currently being treated for PAM in an intensive care unit of a hospital. Currently, DHSS said there are no additional suspected cases of PAM being investigated in Missouri.

The ameba is common and naturally present in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers and ponds; howeve

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