America has reported several unintentional drowning mortality cases in various cities and states this year. Along with Alaska and Florida, Georgia has also recorded numerous deaths from drowning. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, last year Georgia had the fourth most recorded drowning deaths in America. The reports of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proved that half of the unintentional drownings in Georgia occur in the natural water body.

However, this does not depict that deaths in water bodies are always caused by unintentional drowning after swimming. A recent case is a fit verification of this when a teenager from Georgia died from a rare brain-eating amoeba. From 1962 to 2022, America reported 157 cases of this infection, from which only 4 have survived. And unfortunately, this teen became vulnerable to the infection and lost her life shortly after her swimming fun. 

The tragic story of Georgian teen 

On 22nd July, a 17-year-old girl, Megan Ebenroth was swimming in a fresh lake or pond in Georgia, unknown of the upcoming danger. She tragically died afterward from a brain-eating amoeba infection, technically known as Naegleria fowleri. Megan’s mom Christina Ebenrith confirmed her daughter’s death to WRDW-TV. This confirmation by her mother was given a few days after the Georgia Department Of Public Health released an official safety alert about the infection. According to this report, Megan tried her best and battled the infection while she was admitted to the hospital for a few days.

According to Yahoo Life, her mom also stated that despite potential efforts made by the doctors, they could not save her. The children’s hospital at MGC even tried a spinal tap to diagnose Megan, but it did not work out. Christina explained Megan’s condition saying, “The stage we were at was not one Megan could come back from. She was unable to communicate with us. She couldn’t walk at that point.”  

She also told that her daughter suffered severe headaches, fever, and loss of balance due to the infection, prior to her death. Megan who was in a relationship with Seth Adams,  an employee in The Belle Meade Country Club had created a GoFundMe campaign for her. The campaign’s description explained that all proceeds will go to Megan’s family. According to the Georgia Department Of Public Health, this odd infection comes with some brutal symptoms that everyone should be aware of. 

The infrequent brain-eating amoeba caused by swimming

Swimming in unknown water bodies can be very dangerous and cause such rare infections, and once an individual is infected with it, it damages the brain tissue which leads to brain swelling and death. The alerts for the infection raised by the officers stated, the symptoms usually begin after 12 days of being infected which starts with headaches. Then, it develops a fever, nausea, and vomiting, leading to a stiff neck, seizures, coma, and eventually death. A professor at Stanford University, Dr Stanley Derensinski, who is also an infectious disease physician stated that the infection spreads from the nose to all nerves. However, The Georgia Dept Of Public Health stated that there is no need to panic right now after the alert.

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The GoFundMe campaign also expressed their grief saying, it will be helping the family. So far, a collection of 44 donations is received by the campaign. The fundraising goal will be increasing up to $1000 to help the Ebenroth family. This tragic case has startled everyone including her family, friends, community, and school. Megan’s school stated that her essence as an A-Grade student will forever be remembered, she was very active in other curricular activities. Besides her academics, Megan was the vice president of the Spanish club and president of the Beta Club in her school. Most importantly, she was an ideal daughter who passed away tragically and this sorrow cannot be removed from the world and nobody can fulfill those gaps for her family.

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