--- title: Hally Yust, 9, Killed by Brain-Eating Parasite in Kansas description: Kansas and Florida officials issue health warnings about swimming in fresh water canonical: https://time.com/2991407/brain-eating-amoeba-kansas-freshwater/ author: Mirren Gidda article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-07-16T12:18:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:57:51.104Z article:section: Health og:title: Hally Yust, 9, Killed by Brain-Eating Parasite in Kansas og:description: Kansas and Florida officials issue health warnings about swimming in fresh water og:url: https://time.com/2991407/brain-eating-amoeba-kansas-freshwater/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda7e77107da0b964/69869be306f2c11ea032fe91/naegleria-fowleri.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: This photomicrograph of a brain tissue specimen depicts the cytoarchitectural changes associated with a free-living, Naegleria fowleri, amebic infection. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hally Yust, 9, Killed by Brain-Eating Parasite in Kansas twitter:description: Kansas and Florida officials issue health warnings about swimming in fresh water twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda7e77107da0b964/69869be306f2c11ea032fe91/naegleria-fowleri.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Girl, 9, Killed by Brain-Eating Parasite in Water > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=6e014c88-77d1-4bc2-b264-4935b6e0da96&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Brain Eating Amoeba Kills 9-Year-Old [Watch (HLS stream): Brain Eating Amoeba Kills 9-Year-Old](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/93qKPzQG.m3u8) (1:15)  _Published 2014-07-16. Brain Eating Amoeba Kills 9-Year-Old_ by [Mirren Gidda](https://time.com/author/mirren-gidda/) ## Mirren Gidda Jul 16, 2014 12:18 PM UTC by [Mirren Gidda](https://time.com/author/mirren-gidda/) ## Mirren Gidda Jul 16, 2014 12:18 PM UTC Kansas health and environment officials have [issued](http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web%5Farchives/2014/07112014.htm) a health warning after a 9-year-old girl died from a brain-eating amoeba that lives in fresh water. Hally Yust is [reported](http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/15/health/brain-eating-amoeba/) to have been a regular water-skier who frequently swam in freshwater areas. She died last week after encountering the parasite _Naegleria fowleri_ which is found in warm, still water. Florida officials have [provided](http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/newsroom/2014/06/06.04.14Naegleria-Fowleri.pdf) similar warnings following Yust’s death. Last summer Florida resident Zachary Reyna, 12, died after he picked up the parasite while playing in a ditch near his home. The Department of Health and Environment in Kansas said that it’s not clear where Yust, a resident of Johnson County, contracted the parasite. This is the second such case in Kansas. “We are very saddened to learn of this unfortunate circumstance, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time,” said Robert Moser, Department Secretary and State Health Officer. He added: “It is important for the public to know that infections like these are extremely rare and there are precautions one can take to lower their risk – such as nose plugs.” From 1962 to 2013 there have been 132 similar cases reported in the U.S. The infection usually happens when the amoeba enters a person’s nose whilst they’re underwater and travels to the brain. Symptoms usually appear five days after exposure. Officials recommend keeping your head above water when swimming in warm freshwater, wearing nose clips or avoiding freshwater activities altogether. ## Transcript Kansas authorities are warning people about swimming in fresh water lakes and ponds. All because of a brain eating Amoeba that health officials say took the life of nine year old Hale Youst last week. She was an avid water skier and over the last few weeks was in four different bodies of fresh water. It's called Naegleria Flowleri it lives in warm standing water. And even though the amoeba is rare, it can enter through the nose while in the water. It can cause a severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting and in most cases, death. The amoeba then finds itself way back in our noses. And then can work its way into our central nervous system, around our brains, and once its there, it just causes destruction. Last summer, a 12 year old Florida boy named Zachary Rana contracted the infection after he went knee boarding in fresh water near his home. He later died. And a year ago Katie [ UNKNOWN ] a 12 year old from little Arkansas went for a swim and was infected by the parasite. although her prognosis was poor, she survived. She was one of the lucky ones. Over the past 50 years there have been just over a 130 reported cases of naegleria fowleri infections. 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