India, July 25 -- The family of 12-year-old Jaysen Carr has confirmed that the South Carolina middle schooler died on July 18 after contracting a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri. Jaysen had been swimming in Lake Murray, located near Columbia, South Carolina, when he was exposed to the organism, reported local outlet WW10.

The report quoted the South Carolina Department of Public Health saying that Jaysen's case was confirmed the week of July 7. The department said that Naegleria fowleri, though naturally found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes and rivers, causes human infections extremely rarely.

In a statement shared by the family's attorney, Tyler Bailey, the Carrs said they were grieving the "unthin...