Teen’s brain-eating amoeba infection likely linked to water feature

State health officials believe a decorative water feature at a community center in Durham County is the likely source of a rare and fatal brain infection that claimed the life of 17 year old Moises Ponce Mendoza. While investigators could not definitively prove where the teenager was first exposed, evidence gathered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services points toward El Futuro, a mental health care center. The facility features an interactive manmade creek with pumps and fountains where the teen reportedly splashed water on his face during a visit on August 13.

The tragedy unfolded rapidly over several weeks. Moises first sought medical attention on August 21 complaining of severe headaches, but his condition deteriorated quickly. By the time he was admitted to the University of North Carolina Hospital and placed in a coma, doctors suspected an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, often called the brain eating amoeba. Despite intensive efforts to save him, Moises passed away on August 31. His mother shared via a GoFundMe page that her son suffered intensely as the infection progressed from early symptoms like fever and nausea to critical neurological failure.

Environmental testing conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eventually confirmed the presence of the amoeba in the water feature’s storage tank. Investigators noted that the area showed signs of poor maintenance, citing visible algal growth and debris clogging the filtration systems despite claims that the water was treated with chlorine. This combination of warmth and inadequate disinfection created an ideal environment for the organism, which thrives in high temperatures common during late summer months.

In a heartbreaking statement, representatives from El Futuro expressed their devastation over the loss and pledged full cooperation with public health authorities. They confirmed that they were notified of the findings shortly before health officials ordered the feature to be drained and closed to the public. Experts warn that these infections occur when contaminated water enters through the nose, allowing the amoeba to migrate directly to the brain, making such incidents exceptionally dangerous even though they remain rare in the United States.