A New York college student has died of a rare brain infection, she probably contracted while swimming in a body of fresh water in Maryland.

Nineteen years old Kerry Stoutenburgh of Kingston, New York, died in Kingston on Aug. 31, weeks after officials said that she visited Cecil County in northeastern Maryland and swam in county waters.

Dr. Carol Smith, health commissioner in Ulster County, New York, told they were confirmed that Stoutenburgh's death was caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.

Gregg Bortz, spokesman for the Cecil County health department in Maryland, said by phone on Tuesday that New York State officials notified his agency on Sept. 2 of Stoutenburgh's death.

Bortz said that the amoeba occurs naturally in bodies of warm, fresh water. He added that it is widespread, especially in Southern states.

While the amoeba can forcefully enter through the nose and travel up the olfactory nerve to the brain, he said, the risk of infection is low. But the health department informed that anyone jumping into a warm body of water should hold their nose, and anyone swimming in a river, lake or pond should wear a nose clip.

By Prakriti neogi