Daily Times

KARACHI: In a citizens-alert message, the Health Department has stated that naegleria fowleri (brain eating amoeba) lives naturally in moist and warm fresh waterways, including lakes, rivers, ponds, hot springs, soil and poorly maintained swimming pools.

The alert generated on Thursday says that the amoeba infects people by entering their body through the nose during swimming or diving in warm fresh water. It travels to the brain where it destroys brain tissues.

The infection usually occurs during summer months when water temperature is high. The infection spreads rapidly and is fatal in 99 percent of the cases, however, it is entirely preventable.

“The mainstay of treatment is ‘prevention’ which can be achieved through chlorination of water used for ‘ablution’ or ‘nasal rinsing’. Always use distilled or previously boiled and cooled water.

“The visiting public should ensure that water in swimming pools is adequately chlorinated. During swimming, keep your head above and wear a nose clip or swim mask,” the alert said, adding that the Health Department is addressing the issue on high priority and has formulated a technical focal group to address the issue. The owners of all swimming pools have been instructed to ensure chlorination status of water as per the World Health Organisation standards.

The alert advises amoeba infection cases must be treated as emergencies and it should be ensured that any person who develops signs or symptoms of the fatal disease is immediately rushed to the nearest heathcare service provider

Finally, the alert advises amoeba infection cases must be treated as emergencies and it should be ensured that any person who develops signs or symptoms of the fatal disease is immediately rushed to the nearest heathcare service provider. The symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, severe frontal headache, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status and eventual coma.

The brain-eating amoeba was first discovered in 1965 in Australia. However, experts believe that the amoeba had evolved in the United States. There are several species of Naegleria but only the fowleri species cause human disease. There are several fowleri subtypes, all of which are believed to be dangerous. Studies show that many people may have antibodies to N. fowleri. That suggests that they became infected with the amoeba but that their immune systems fought it off.

Published in Daily Times, August 3^rd 2018.