Family of Jaysen Carr urges agencies to implement warnings around risk of deadly freshwater amoeba

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The parents of Jaysen Carr — the 12-year-old Hand Middle School student who passed away from a brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria Fowleri — are speaking out regarding their son’s tragic death.

Jaysen contracted the amoeba while playing in Lake Murray and passed away on July 18th.

During a press conference in front of the SC Dept. of Environmental Services building on Bull Street, Clarence and Ebony Carr described their son as a multi-sport athlete and musician.

“I never heard Jaysen say he didn’t like someone. He either loved you or he simply did not know who you were,” says Clarence.

“He truly had the gift of love, compassion, athleticism, and that big smile that everyone loved about him,” says Ebony.

The Carrs are now calling for more to be done by local health agencies, and Dominion Energy — the owner of Lake Murray- to warn residents about Naigleria Fowleri, which doctors say is only dangerous if forcefully introduced up someone’s nasal passages.

Doctors with Prisma Health confirmed to ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams that if the amoeba is swallowed or makes contact with the skin, it is not dangerous.

“Had we known the risk of him swimming in that lake, nobody would have ever chosen to get in. So we definitely want the public to know there are major risks swimming in Lake Murray and any other body of water or lake that’s around as well,” says Ebony.

The Carr’s Attorney Tyler Bailey, is calling on the organizations to mandate public service announcements, include signs by the water, and provide the same testing (that Bailey says is done at beaches) to be done at lakes.

Statistically, amoebas in freshwater are more likely to be deadly if the water temperature is above 80 degrees.

“As of right now, we have a heat advisory today, you see that there are heat advisories put out by Dominion Energy, along with the Department of Public Health. But there’s nothing to notify anybody about the amoeba that can be deadly in Lake Murray and other fresh bodies of water right now,” says Bailey.

“Focus on that one person that could possibly be saved by something as simple as a precaution, a warning, anything,” says Clarence.

In a statement to ABC Columbia, Dominion Energy says, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jaysen Carr and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and other loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. According to public health agencies, naturally occurring microorganisms are present in freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as other unchlorinated water sources, but these types of tragedies are rare. We encourage everyone to follow safety guidance from public health agencies when engaging in recreational water activities.”

The Department of Public Health also issued a statement to ABC Columbia saying, “DPH extends its sincerest condolences to the Carr family. We always review our policies after an event such as this. Our agency is committed to keeping the public informed about public health threats with actionable information that allows the public to make informed decisions about their health. The risk to the general public remains very low given the nature of this illness, including that the amoeba is commonly found in all warm freshwater across south carolina but very rarely causes illness, and there is no risk of person-to-person transmission.” 

According to Dr. Anna Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor with Prisma Health, around 10 people are infected across the U.S. each year — however 97% of cases are fatal.

She says diving, or forcefully falling into the water can increase exposure. To aid in prevention of the amoeba being introduced up the nasal passages, Dr. Burch told ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams in a Zoom call last week, “Teach children how to either blow out of their nose or holding their nose, or you could do something easy like wearing nose clips that keeps your nose clipped while playing in the water. Other things to note is we don’t like individuals to be digging into the sand or the dirt especially in shallow water because that is where the amoeba likes to live.”