A North Carolina teenager is in critical condition after contracting a rare braineating amoeba, state health officials said.

RELATED: Brain-eating amoeba found in popular US National Parks, including Yellowstone What we know: Public health authorities say the teen was infected with Naegleria fowleri, a singlecelled organism commonly found in warm freshwater.

The amoeba can trigger sudden, severe headaches, fever and vomiting before rapidly progressing to a stiff neck, seizures and coma.