Health officials in North Carolina say a 17‑year‑old boy, Moises Ponce Mendoza, who died on Aug. 31 after contracting a rare brain infection, was most likely exposed to the amoeba Naegleria fowleri through a water feature at El Futuro, a community‑based mental‑health care center in Durham County. The conclusion follows an investigation that examined the teen’s recent activities, tested environmental samples and reviewed laboratory results.
Investigation and Findings
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a report on Sept. 15 outlining the steps taken to trace possible exposure sites. investigators interviewed family members, who disclosed that the teen had swum at an apartment complex pool on Aug. 11 and Aug. 17 and had planned visits to two ponds on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, though it was unclear whether he entered the water. A follow‑up interview identified a third potential site: a garden water feature at El Futuro that the teen contacted on Aug. 13, including splashing water on his face.
On Aug. 28, Durham County Public Health ordered the water feature to be closed and later drained to prevent further use. The feature, described as an interactive, man‑made creek with recirculating water, multiple fountains, a play pump and a fire‑hydrant‑style fountain, was maintained through power washing and hand‑fed chlorination. Inspection revealed algal growth, organic debris around the pump system and filter coverage. Samples from the fountain’s storage tank later tested positive for non‑viable Naegleria fowleri DNA at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although the investigation could not definitively pinpoint the exposure location, the report stated that “epidemiologic, laboratory, and environmental findings suggest that the El Futuro water feature was the most likely source.” The presence of algal growth, inadequate disinfection and detection of amoeba DNA supported that assessment.
Medical Timeline and Symptoms
Moises first sought care at an emergency department on Aug. 21 after suffering a severe headache for two days. His condition worsened, prompting a return visit on Aug. 22 and subsequent hospital admission. Clinicians suspected a Naegleria infection based on reports of freshwater exposure and neurological symptoms. Laboratory confirmation arrived on Aug. 26, and the teen was placed in a medically induced coma as physicians attempted treatment. He died five days later, on Aug. 31.
According to his mother, Monica Mendoza, the teen’s symptoms escalated rapidly, leading her to bring him to the University of North Carolina Hospital’s emergency department after an initial brief examination sent the family home. The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain.
Background on Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, ponds and rivers. The organism does not cause illness when swallowed; danger arises when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose. Once in the nasal passages, it can migrate to the brain and trigger PAM, a disease that is extremely rare but typically fatal.
Symptoms usually appear five days after exposure, though the range can be one to twelve days. Early signs include severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, followed quickly by stiff neck, seizures and coma. The CDC reports fewer than ten cases per year in the United States, with a mortality rate exceeding 97 %. Between 1962 and 2024, only 167 cases have been documented nationwide.
State health officials noted that the amoeba thrives in higher water temperatures, up to 115 °F, and that infections often occur during prolonged heat periods that raise water temperature and lower water levels. The North Carolina case follows a recent fatal infection of an eight‑year‑old girl in Louisiana, who was believed to have been exposed while swimming in a lake.
El Futuro’s statement expressed grief for the family and pledged continued cooperation with public health authorities. The water feature remains closed pending further action.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
