Family of 12-year-old SC boy who died from brain-eating amoeba speaks to media

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The family of a 12-year-old South Carolina boy who died after contracting a rare infection associated with Naegleria fowleri spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon.

Naegleria fowleri, more commonly known as a “brain-eating amoeba,” is a single-celled organism primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jaysen Carr, a middle school student from Columbia, died on July 18 after contracting infection in Lake Murray.

Carr’s family is working to raise awareness about health-related issues coming from freshwater lakes in South Carolina, according to Tyler Bailey, the family’s attorney.

Baily released a statement last week saying that Carr’s family is “grieving this unthinkable loss but they are also grateful at the outpouring of love and support they have received from the community.”

You can watch the news conference live in the video player above.