Nebraska family recounts loved one lost to 'brain-eating amoeba'

Iowa and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are testing the water in a southwest Iowa lake for brain-eating amoeba after a Missouri resident was infected last week, according to the state's Department of Natural Resources.As the Iowa DNR closed the beach at Lake of Three Fires State Park, John and Jessica Livingston of Millard heard the parasite possibly reached the warm body of fresh water in the region, KETV reports."It's just getting closer and closer to home," Jessica said. "We've known this to be in states mostly in the South. You know, it's crept a little bit up towards the Midwest."Her cousin's 7-year-old son Kyle Lewis died in August of 2010 after swimming in the Puluxy River in Texas.The Center for Disease Control says infections happen in fresh water when temperatures reach triple digits. A recent study found the parasite is showing up in the midwest more frequently, which could be the result of rising temperatures in the region."It's kind of a tough position when we're invited to lakes," John said. "We always throw it out there that we'll go, but we just we won't get in the water."The husband and wife are a part of Kyle Cares Amoeba Awareness. Their main message is to prevent water from entering the nose.Experts say the parasite enters through water going up the nose. The CDC says only four out of 154 people survived infection since 1962.UNMC chief of infectious diseases Dr. Mark Rupp says Nebraska Medicine pre-stocks medication that treat infections."A handful of cases that have been described where people have survived, and that seems to be more likely when this newer medication that miltefosine is used," Rupp said.Jessica Livingston is a Nebraska Medicine nurse and says she played a part in bringing the treatment to the Omaha area.Experts say infection is rare, but the Livingstons and their families want others to understand what may be in warm bodies of fresh water."Even though not here, he just feels so close," Jessica said.Related coverage:

OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) —

As the Iowa DNR closed the beach at Lake of Three Fires State Park, John and Jessica Livingston of Millard heard the parasite possibly reached the warm body of fresh water in the region, KETV reports.

"It's just getting closer and closer to home," Jessica said. "We've known this to be in states mostly in the South. You know, it's crept a little bit up towards the Midwest."

Her cousin's 7-year-old son Kyle Lewis died in August of 2010 after swimming in the Puluxy River in Texas.

The Center for Disease Control says infections happen in fresh water when temperatures reach triple digits. A recent study found the parasite is showing up in the midwest more frequently, which could be the result of rising temperatures in the region.

"It's kind of a tough position when we're invited to lakes," John said. "We always throw it out there that we'll go, but we just we won't get in the water."

The husband and wife are a part of Kyle Cares Amoeba Awareness. Their main message is to prevent water from entering the nose.

Experts say the parasite enters through water going up the nose. The CDC says only four out of 154 people survived infection since 1962.

UNMC chief of infectious diseases Dr. Mark Rupp says Nebraska Medicine pre-stocks medication that treat infections.

"A handful of cases that have been described where people have survived, and that seems to be more likely when this newer medication that miltefosine is used," Rupp said.

Jessica Livingston is a Nebraska Medicine nurse and says she played a part in bringing the treatment to the Omaha area.

Experts say infection is rare, but the Livingstons and their families want others to understand what may be in warm bodies of fresh water.

"Even though [Kyle's] not here, he just feels so close," Jessica said.

Related coverage:

Nebraska family recounts loved one lost to 'brain-eating amoeba'

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