A parasite found in two water samples could affect Portland's effort to avoid building a $90 million treatment plant for the Bull Run watershed.

Tests found the cryptosporidium parasite in Dec. 30 tests.

Courtney Nash, 16, died in August 2011, after swimming in a river in Florida, just days after Christian Strickland, nine, from Virginia was killed by the same deadly amoeba!

Both kids caught meningitis from the terrifying and tiny amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria fowleri quickly travels through the body destroying brain tissue — and experts warn there’s the risk of an epidemic in Virgina, where Christian picked up the parasite on a fishing camp on August 5.

Dr Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, says, "Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer. It’s important that people be aware of … safe swimming messages.’

Courtney Nash caught Naegleria fowleri when she dived into St. John’s River with family members. She died this week.

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