Two-year-old boy succumbs to brain-eating amoeba infection

Tragedy struck when a two-year-old boy named Woodrow Bundy lost his life due to a brain-eating amoeba infection. The devastating incident occurred while he was playing in the water at Ash Springs in the US state of Nevada. Woodrow’s mother, Briana, shared the heartbreaking news on her Facebook page.
In a poignant post, Briana expressed her grief, saying, “Woodrow Turner Bundy returned victoriously to our father in heaven at 2:56 am. He fought for 7 days, the longest any person has survived on record is 3. I knew I had the strongest son in the world. He is my hero, and I will forever be grateful to God for giving me the best baby boy on earth. I am grateful to know I will have that boy in heaven someday.”
Initially, the family believed Woodrow’s flu-like symptoms were a regular consequence of swimming in the waters. They provided him with the necessary care at home, but his condition worsened with severe headaches, weakness, fever, and an inability to move his neck. Rushing him to the hospital, doctors initially suspected meningitis, but further tests revealed he had contracted ‘Naegleria Fowleri’, commonly known as a “brain-eating amoeba.”
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), this infection can be fatal to almost anyone who contracts it, leading to a disease called amebic meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, stiff neck, loss of balance, seizures, and even hallucinations. Such amoeba viruses are commonly found in warm water bodies like lakes, ponds, and swimming pools, and they can enter the body through the nose and mouth, causing severe infection. Notably, if ingested through the mouth, stomach acid typically kills the virus.
The situation became even more distressing when the parents sought help from the CDC, hoping for life-saving medicines for their son. Unfortunately, the CDC refused, stating that the boy was “past the point of any survival.”
In the midst of their pain and grief, the family set up a ‘GoFundMe’ page to seek financial assistance for medical and funeral expenses. The page aimed to support Briana and her family during the difficult time, as they faced both emotional and financial challenges.
The tragic incident highlights the importance of being cautious about water entering nasal passages, as viruses can easily infiltrate the body through this route. As evidenced by a recent case in Florida, where an individual died after using tap water to rinse nasal sinuses, vigilance in such matters is crucial for one’s well-being.