A 9-year-old Kansas girl died this week due to a brain-eating amoeba.
Victim Hally Yust died on Wednesday, Fox4KC says, and had been exposed to the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
Yust's obituary said she played multiple sports and hoped to play college basketball.
'As
a giver, caretaker, sister, daughter, and friend, Hally was the light
to the world and a blessing to all,' her obituary said. She is survived
by her parents and three siblings.
Victim: Hally Yust, pictured, died this week because of a brain-eating amoeba
The
Kansas Department of Health and Education (KDHE) said in a news release
that the victim had been in several bodies of fresh water. The source
of the amoeba was not identified, the agency said.
The
KDHE said the amoeba led to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM),
which can reach a swimmer's brain through his or her nose.
'Naegleri
fowleri can be found in freshwater environments around the world, but
infection causing PAM is extremely rare,' the agency said. 'From 1962 to
2013, there have been 132 cases reported in the United States, with 34
of those cases occurring from 2004 to 2013.
'Most
cases have occurred in southern-tier states. The risk of infection is
very low, but increases during the summer months when water temperatures
rise and more people participate in water-related activities.'
Active: Hally Yust, pictured, enjoyed sports, including waterskiing
Robert
Moser of the KDHE said in the release 'It is important for the public
to know that infections like these are extremely rare and there are
precautions one can take to lower their risk – such as nose plugs.'
Yust's
family said in a statement to Fox4KC that Hally 'loved life and part of
her great joy was spending time playing in the water. Her life was
taken by a rare amoeba organism that grows in many different fresh water
settings. We want you to know this tragic event is very, very rare, and
this is not something to become fearful about.
'We
hope you will not live in fear of this rare infection that took our
daughter’s life. Our family is very active in water sports, and we will
continue to be.'
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