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MDH: Lab Testing Rules Out Amoeba As Cause Of Swimming Teen's Death

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that a Minnesota child, Hunter Boutain, did not die from suspected Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) as was reported in early July, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday.

The CDC testing confirmed that Boutain died from streptococcal meningoencephalitis, not PAM.

In early July, the 14-year-old became sick after swimming in Lake Minnewaska in Pope County and later died.

On July 7, the MDH announced the incident was a suspected PAM case based on initial clinical findings by the child's health care team. The CDC conducted testing to verify the initial finding, but could not corroborate it.

"The laboratory results help bring clarity to the situation, but do not lessen the tragic nature of this case," the MDH said in the statement. "The results also do not change the fact that there is always a very low-level risk of infection with Naegleria fowleri when swimming in fresh water."

Dr. Mark Schleiss, Director of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the University of Minnesota, says Boutain's doctors knew right away that he had meningitis, showing symptoms of PAM. He says the type of meningitis Boutain actually had -- streptococcal meningoencephalitis -- isn't usually as aggressive as this particular case, and the disease looked similar to PAM under a microscope.

Schleiss says everyone has this particular type of bacteria living in their nose, but if it enters the body elsewhere it can cause meningitis. Doctors now believe Boutain was infected after he suffered a head trauma.

"He had a skull fracture and we didn't know it," Hunter's mother Roseanne Boutain said.

Still, Schleiss says they wouldn't do anything differently. Because of the uncertainty surrounding Boutain's diagnosis, the medical team cast a wide net in treatment, including for both PAM and streptococcal meningoencephalitis, though it didn't seem to have helped.

"My 17-year-old son stood right next to Hunter's grave and started thanking God for Hunter's life," Boutain said. "He prayed for peace for us."

Boutain said a few good things did come from a correct diagnosis.

"The tourism industry in our area, that's their bread and butter. That's how they survive, this is their business, this is their livelihood. So we are so relieved that this is not an amoeba and that our lakes, from my perspective, are safe," Boutain said.

The teen's family says they're confident that doctors at the CDC and Department of Health did what they could.

"It was Hunter's time to go. Whether it was an amoeba or bacteria or some freak accident on the road somewhere, it was his time to go," Boutain said.

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