Did you hear the heartbreaking news of a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery, Kozhikode, who lost her life to a rare infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba? She was admitted to the hospital with a fever on August 13, 2025. The sudden death of her shocked the community, not only because of her young age but also because it was the fourth case reported in the district that year. The culprit? Naegleria fowleri lives in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes, rivers and unchlorinated wells or storage water tanks. The case serves as a reminder that hidden dangers can exist in natural water sources. It highlights the need for awareness, timely precautions and the need to keep water safe.
What Is the Brain-Eating Amoeba?
Naeglera fowleri is a tiny, single-celled organism that lives in warm freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, rivers and even in water tanks and wells that are not cleaned and maintained properly. Although it cannot be seen with the naked eye, it can be very dangerous. The amoeba enters the human body through the nose while swimming, diving or bathing in contaminated water. Once it enters through the nose, the amoeba moves up to the brain, where it begins to destroy brain tissue.
This infection leads to a serious disease called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). It affects the rain and its surrounding tissues, causing symptoms like headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, confusion and in many cases, seizures. It is important to note that Naegleria fowleri does not spread by drinking water. The infection happens only when contaminated water goes up through the nose. The main risk factors include:
●Swimming or diving in warm, stagnant freshwater bodies.
●Using untreated or unboiled water for nasal cleaning or certain religious practices.
●Coming into contact with water from poorly maintained storage tanks or wells that have not been chlorinated.
Symptoms to Watch Out ForPrimary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) symptoms usually appear within a few days after contact with the contaminated water and progress very quickly. Since the infection spreads rapidly, seeking immediate medical care is very important. In Kerala, survival rates have been slightly better compared to the global average, largely due to early detection and timely treatment with medicines. However, prevention and awareness remain the strongest defenses, as the disease advances too fast for delayed treatment to be effective.Common symptoms include:
●Severe headache
●High fever
●Nausea and repeated vomiting
●Stiffness in the neck makes movement painful
●Confusion, irritability or noticeable changes in mental state
●Seizures that may eventually lead to coma
These signs should never be ignored, as the condition worsens rapidly within days. Early recognition and sudden medical attention can make a critical difference.
How to Prevent It?Prevention is the best defense against infections like Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis. Because the disease progresses quickly and treatments are limited, taking simple precautions can greatly lower the risk.Key steps to stay safe:
●Avoid swimming in warm, stagnant water during the monsoon. Ponds, lakes and poorly maintained pools can harbor the amoeba, especially in rainy weather. Staying away from these waters reduces the chance of infection.
●Use only sterile, boiled or properly filtered water for nasal cleaning. Nasal irrigation or rinsing with unsafe water can let the amoeba enter the body, so always use treated water.
●Make sure water tanks and wells are chlorinated regularly. Proper maintenance and routine chlorination of household and community water supplies kill harmful microorganisms, including Naegleria fowleri.
●Seek immediate medical care if symptoms appear after freshwater exposure. Early signs such as headache, fever or nausea following swimming or bathing in freshwater should be checked properly to improve the chances of timely treatment.
Water Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Recent cases of brain-eating amoeba infection in Kerala show that contaminated water is a silent threat that can carry serious health risks.So awareness and prevention are very important. Use boiled or filtered water for nasal cleaning and keep storage tanks and wells regularly chlorinated. Regular testing of water sources is also crucial. Testing drinking water, wells and tanks helps detect contamination early, so communities can act before it becomes dangerous. The Kerala government’s “Water is Life” campaign supports these measures by promoting routine chlorination and community awareness, helping protect public health and reduce the risk of amoebic infections.
