Rise in deadly 'brain-eating' amoeba poses health concern in India
In the southern state of Kerala, India, a deadly outbreak of the water-borne bacteria Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba," has caused concern. This bacteria, which is typically contracted through contaminated water entering the nose, has been responsible for 19 deaths and 72 infections in Kerala this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported that nearly 500 cases of this bacteria have been reported worldwide since 1962, with the majority of cases occurring in the United States, India, Pakistan, and Australia.
The Kerala One Health Centre, in collaboration with Dr. Altaf Ali, is at the forefront of efforts to control the spread of these bacterial infections in Kerala. The Indian government has also formed a task force to address the outbreak and has implemented measures such as chlorination of public bathing sites and public awareness campaigns.
The symptoms associated with Naegleria fowleri bacterial infections include headache, fever, vomiting, seizures, altered mental status, hallucinations, and coma. If the bacteria reaches the brain, it can cause an infection that kills over 95% of those affected.
The number of bacterial infections and deaths from the amoeba in Kerala this year has doubled compared to last year. In September alone, there were 9 deaths and 24 cases reported. Last year, the bacteria claimed the lives of 9 people out of 36 reported cases.
The bacteria Naegleria fowleri lives in warm lakes and rivers, and new cases this year have emerged from across the state, as opposed to specific pockets in the past. The CDC states that bacterial infections from the amoeba are "very rare but nearly always fatal."
The Indian government's task force is conducting large-scale tests across Kerala to detect and treat cases of the bacteria. The fight against this deadly pathogen continues, with the hope of preventing further loss of life.
Read also:
- Is it advisable to utilize your personal health insurance in a publicly-funded medical facility?
- Dietary strategies for IBS elimination: Aims and execution methods
- Benefits, suitable dosage, and safety considerations for utilizing pumpkin seed oil in treating an overactive bladder
- Harmful Medical Remedies: A Misguided Approach to Healing
