Houston: A 14-year-old Junior Olympics athlete has died after encountering a rare amoeba while swimming in a lake north of Houston.
Michael Riley Jr.’s family says he developed a headache and became disoriented after swimming with his cross country team on August 13.
Michael, who was due to start high school this year, was diagnosed with Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (men-ingo-in-SEPHALITE-us). The amoeba entered his nasal passages and made its way into his brain.
Riley’s cousin Jennifer Hohman said in a statement Sunday he was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital and placed in a medically induced coma until tests proved he had lost all brain function and couldn’t breathe without support.
The hospital disconnected the ventilator Sunday. Hohman confirmed that he died.
Health officials say the amoeba infected 35 people in the US between 2005 and 2014.
Michael competed in the Junior Olympics three times.
