Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(Douglas Co., NE) -- The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a child that recently died while swimming in the Elkhorn River died from a brain eating amoeba. The Douglas County Health Department says the 8-year-old became infected with Naegleria Fowleri after swimming in the Elkhorn River near Valley on August 8th. The health department is urging caution while being exposed to freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and streams by plugging the nose and keeping your head above water. This is the second case of the amoeba to be confirmed in the area this summer. A person from Missouri died from Naegleria Fowleri after swimming in Lake of Three Fires in Taylor County, Iowa in July.