MISSOURI, USA — A Missouri resident is in intensive care after officials confirmed they had contracted a rare and deadly infection after swimming at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed the swimmer was infected with Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as a brain-eating amoeba. The amoeba can cause a deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that the amoeba often causes death in people between one to 18 days after infection, usually five days after the start of symptoms. Early stage infection symptoms include typical meningitis symptoms like fever, headache, and stiff neck. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after swimming in warm fresh water are advised to seek he

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