There is a warning from health officials because a second boy has died from a rare brain infection caused by an amoeba. It is the second death this summer.

The death has health officials investigating where the 10-year-old may have contracted the infection and is reminding people that the amoeba could be in almost any lake in Central Florida.

The latest case is 10-year-old Richard Almeida who died Monday.

That case prompted Orange County and Osceola County officials to issue a joint statement to prevent another death.

In the statement, health officials said that it is rare to have two cases in Central Florida. They said that the safest thing the public can do right now is to stay out of the water.

The amoeba that causes amoebic encephalitis can survive in fresh water with a temperature of 80 degrees and above.

The new warnings were posted at the Orlando Water Sports Complex, among other places. Managers at the Orlando Water Sports Complex had the water tested recently. That report came back clean.

Health officials said no one should take chances.

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis is a rare disease caused by infection with the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba is commonly found in the environment. It is most commonly found in soil or warm, stagnant bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, unchlorinated pools, and in discharge or holding basins worldwide.

Onset begins abruptly with headache, sometimes with slight upper respiratory inflammation, rapidly progressing to include fever, vomiting, symptoms of meningitis and other central nervous system involvement, followed within a few days by deep coma and death. Infections usually result in death within 7 to 10 days of onset.

The Florida Department of Health is urging swimmers to swim with nose plugs, and to be wary of jumping or diving in fresh water lakes or ponds.

News of this latest amoeba death may have many Central Florida parents concerned. Often an amoebic infection can mimic flu-like symptoms.

The infection comes on quickly and is intense. If your child has recently gone to a  lake that is warmer than 80 degrees your risk of getting this amoeba infection is rare -- but it can happen, so it's important to know what to do and be prepared.

"In Florida we've seen a dozen of these cases in the last decade," said Dr. Asim Jani, an infectious disease expert from Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Doctors said there are three symptoms to pay particular attention to: 

• Intense Headaches, with a fever
• Vomiting
• Stiff Neck

"The primary difference is the brain," Jani said.

When a splash of water rushes through the nose, the infection can travel to the brain, and it can be anywhere from two days to two weeks before symptoms appear.

"I think the obvious is that you shouldn't get water in your face," said Dr. Anthony Walsh, a microbiologist from Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Both doctors said to either avoid the water or use nose plugs.

Usually, if this type of infection is suspected, a spinal tap is done and treatment is started right away. However, because of the intensity of this type of infection it's usually too late.