In a heartbreaking turn of events, an 8-year-old girl identified as Lillian Smart has succumbed to an extremely rare and deadly infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. The incident occurred in Louisiana over the weekend, after Lillian was diagnosed with the infection. Health officials describe this amoeba as a dangerous organism that thrives in warm freshwater bodies across the United States and can travel up the nose to cause an almost always fatal infection. On average, fewer than 10 such cases are reported annually in the U.S. Lillian's parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, announced her passing on Facebook, expressing their grief and appreciation for everyone who tried to save her life. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that this was the first case of Naegleria fowleri infection in the state since 2013. However, they did not disclose Lillian's identity due to their policy on individual cases. It is believed that Lillian contracted the infection while swimming in Lake Claiborne, north Louisiana. The amoeba can lead to a fatal condition known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis when it travels from water into the brain. Since 1937, approximately 180 confirmed cases have been reported in the U.S., with most being fatal. It is important to note that the infection cannot spread from person to person. Naegleria fowleri can be found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals, and ponds throughout the U.S. The amoeba becomes dangerous when water temperature exceeds 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) and has historically been a summer concern in southern states. Recently, similar cases have surfaced in Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota. Despite the danger posed by this amoeba, there is no routine environmental test for its presence in water bodies. Last year, another tragic death from this infection occurred in South Carolina. Brook, a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, reported this story as part of a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover underreported issues.