In August 2016, 11-year-old Hannah Collins, from Beaufort, South Carolina died from an infection caused by a rare brain-eating amoeba which destroys brain tissue and has a 97% fatality rate.

The brain-eating amoeba was contracted following her swim in a local river.

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These brain eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) reside in warm freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers.

In June an 18 year old in North Caroline died of the same complications.

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According to the Beaufort Gazette, Hannah is thought to have been exposed to the Naegleria fowleri organism in Charleston County's Edisto River.

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Collins' family have set up a Go Fund Me to help support her funeral and medical costs.

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