LOUISIANA — Daniel Smart and Rebecca Smart are the parents of Lillian Smart. Kyle Roberts is a spokesperson for the Smart family. The parents released a statement on Facebook regarding their daughter's death.

"Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus," Daniel Smart and Rebecca Smart wrote. "The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from." They added that everyone did everything they could to keep her here.

The Louisiana Department of Health announced last week that a state resident had been hospitalized with a Naegleria fowleri infection. Stacey Grow is a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Health. The department stated this was the first confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection in the state since 2013.

The Louisiana Department of Health does not comment on individual cases or specific patients. Louisiana Department of Health records identify three previous deaths associated with Naegleria fowleri in the state since 2011. Those cases occurred in 2011, 2013, and 2016, all linked to household water exposure from tap sources.

Smart, an 8-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her eighth birthday. She had recently visited Lake Claiborne, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Ruston, though health officials have not confirmed the source of her infection. Lillian was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at a hospital in Ruston after developing symptoms including fever, double vision, and significant brain swelling.

Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). About 97% of people who develop primary amoebic meningoencephalitis die from the infection, according to the CDC. There have been approximately 180 confirmed Naegleria fowleri infections in the U.S. between 1937 and 2025.

On average, there are fewer than 10 cases of Naegleria fowleri infection annually in the U.S. The CDC reported two PAM cases nationwide last year. Recent Naegleria fowleri cases have appeared in Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota. In 2022, a child in Nebraska died from a Naegleria fowleri infection, marking the state's first reported death linked to the amoeba. A Georgia resident died from a Naegleria fowleri infection in 2023. A 12-year-old boy in South Carolina died from a Naegleria fowleri infection last year.

Lake Claiborne is a public recreation area managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The Louisiana Department of Health has not issued any advisories or warnings for Lake Claiborne at this time. Testing for Naegleria fowleri in water bodies is not routinely conducted, as the amoeba is naturally occurring in warm freshwater environments.

Several businesses in Ruston, Louisiana, participated in a fundraiser for Smart's family. Community members have shared condolences online, and a memorial service is being planned. The family has requested privacy during this time.

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It enters the body through the nose, typically during swimming or diving, and travels to the brain. Infection cannot occur from drinking contaminated water or from person-to-person contact.

Health officials recommend using nose clips or holding the nose shut when engaging in water activities in warm freshwater, especially during periods of high temperatures. The risk of infection remains extremely low, but awareness is critical due to the severity of the disease.

Timeline

A child in Nebraska died from a Naegleria fowleri infection in 2022, which was the state's first reported death linked to the amoeba.

Smart, an 8-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, died on Saturday. Smart died one day after celebrating her eighth birthday. Smart died from an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.

What's New

Lake Claiborne is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Ruston, Louisiana. Smart was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at a hospital in Ruston, Louisiana.

Smart experienced symptoms including fever, double vision, and significant brain swelling.