A 7-year-old child who was infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba in Northern California has died. 

The family of David Pruitt of Tehama County confirmed to The Associated Press that the boy died on Aug. 7 from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is caused by Naegleria fowleri or the “brain-eating amoeba.” Pruitt contracted the amoeba after swimming in an unidentified California lake.

America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

Naegleria fowleri typically infects people through the nose when they are submerged in warm freshwater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can include a severe frontal headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, hallucinations and coma.

Pruitt had been hospitalized on July 30 before being flown by medivac to the UC Davis Medical Center, where doctors placed him on life support due to severe brain swelling.

While the infection is rare, it is generally fatal. Since 1978, there have been only five documented survivors in North America.

READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA

YOUR YOGA TOP COULD SOON MEASURE HOW WELL YOU ARE MOVING

MICROGRAVITY IN SPACE WEAKENS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS: STUDY

EATING MORE COLORFUL FOODS MAY REDUCE RISK OF COGNITIVE DECLINE

STUDY SUGGESTS THIS GAME COULD DELAY THE PROGRESSION OF DEMENTIA

EARNING A BACHELOR’S DEGREE COULD ADD AN AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS ONTO YOUR LIFE, STUDY FINDS