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Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba

July 3, 2015

Health officials in California say a woman has died after being infected with a brain-eating bacteria.

The 21-year-old woman died in a Reno, Nevada hospital on June 20, according to the Associated Press.

Her name has not been released.

The woman is believed to have been infected with an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri while she was swimming in fresh, warm water in central California. She experienced symptoms of headache, nausea and vomiting four days before her death.

Health officials say there is no threat to the public, as the woman contracted the amoeba on private property.

The risk of contracting a brain-eating amoeba remains very low, according to the Associated Press, with only seven other cases ever reported in California.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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