Outside Magazine – We May Have a Cure for the Brain Eating Amoeba

Outside Magazine published a story about Sebastian DeLeon. DeLeon had contracted Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba” while swimming in a body of freshwater east of Fort Lauderdale in August 2016. Dr. Humberto Liriano treated DeLeon with the drug miltefosine, which was personally delivered to the hospital by Michael MacLaughlan of Profounda. Profounda is now the main American source for miltefosine.

“Steve Smelski and his wife have dedicated themselves to helping MacLaughlan. After Jordan’s death, the couple started a foundation to spread awareness and educate doctors about PAM. Getting miltefosine into hospitals, Steve says, is one of their key goals and this winter they’ll be pushing for more widespread adoption. “We’re trying to get people to realize they need it in every hospital pharmacy,” he says. In the fight against N. fowleri, time is of the essence and, as Steve says, “you have no idea how much time you have left.”