Kerala Brain-Eating Amoeba Cases: Naegleria fowleri Symptoms, Causes & Prevention
๐ฑ Did you know? The brain-eating amoeba has a survival rate of less than 5%. Found mostly in warm freshwater lakes and rivers, it can cause a rare but fatal brain infection called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Brain-Eating Amoeba?
The brain-eating amoeba, scientifically known as Naegleria fowleri, is a free-living single-celled organism. Despite its nickname, it does not “eat” the brain directly but causes severe infection when it enters the body through the nose.
Recent Kerala Cases
In Kerala, India, several confirmed cases of brain-eating amoeba infection have raised major public health concerns in 2025. The first case this year was reported in July 2025, when an 11-year-old girl from Kozhikode district died after bathing in a pond near her home. Within weeks, two more cases were detected — one in Malappuram and another in Thrissur — both involving children under the age of 15. Unfortunately, all patients succumbed to the infection within days of hospitalization, highlighting the extremely high fatality rate of Naegleria fowleri.
The Kerala Health Department has since issued an urgent advisory asking the public to:
- Avoid swimming in stagnant ponds, rivers, or unchlorinated water bodies during the monsoon and post-monsoon months.
- Use boiled, cooled, or chlorinated water for daily needs like bathing and nasal cleansing.
- Report immediately to health centers if symptoms such as headache, fever, vomiting, or stiff neck appear after water exposure.
Authorities have also launched state-wide awareness campaigns in schools and local communities. Water quality testing has been intensified, and disinfection drives are being carried out in areas where cases were reported. While the overall number of infections remains very low, health experts warn that Kerala’s warm, humid climate and open freshwater ponds provide an environment where Naegleria fowleri can thrive, making strict precautions necessary.
How Does It Infect Humans?
Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater sources such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, usually while swimming or diving. From there, it travels to the brain, destroying tissue and leading to inflammation.
Symptoms of Infection
- Severe headache
- Fever and nausea
- Stiff neck
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Coma in later stages
Symptoms typically appear within 1–12 days after exposure and progress rapidly.
Treatment & Survival Rate
Treatment is extremely difficult. The infection, called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), has a fatality rate of over 95%. Drugs like amphotericin B, miltefosine, and rifampin have been used in rare survival cases, but early detection is critical.
How to Protect Yourself
- Avoid swimming in warm freshwater during hot seasons.
- Use nose clips while diving or swimming.
- Do not stir up sediment in shallow, warm freshwater areas.
- Ensure swimming pools and hot tubs are properly chlorinated.
- For nasal irrigation (like neti pots), use sterile or boiled water only.
Global Incidents
Cases of Naegleria fowleri have been reported in the United States, India, Pakistan, and Australia. In recent years, rising water temperatures due to climate change have increased concern about its spread to new regions.
Recent Kerala Cases
In Kerala, India, multiple cases of brain-eating amoeba infection have been reported in 2025. Health officials confirmed infections in children and young adults who had been swimming in untreated freshwater sources. Local authorities have advised residents to avoid swimming in ponds and to use boiled or chlorinated water for daily use. Awareness drives are being conducted across the state to prevent further cases.
Conclusion
While extremely rare, the brain-eating amoeba is deadly. Awareness and prevention are the best defenses. Staying cautious during water activities can save lives.
FAQs on Brain-Eating Amoeba
1. Can you get infected by drinking water?
No. Infection only occurs when contaminated water enters the nose.
2. Is it found in seawater?
No. It does not survive in saltwater.
3. How common is infection?
Extremely rare. Only a few hundred cases have ever been reported globally.
4. Can it spread from person to person?
No. It cannot be transmitted between humans.
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