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Seoul: South Korea reported its first death from infection caused by a ‘brain-eating amoeba’ on Monday. A man in his 50s, died 10 days after displaying symptoms of the rare but lethal infection. It is suspected that the man was infected during a trip to Thailand, according to The Korea Times.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) revealed that the man stayed in Thailand for four months before entering South Korea on December 10. A day later, he was taken to the emergency room after he began suffering from headaches, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and slurred speech, said the report.
If contaminated water is inhaled up the nose, Naegleria fowleri can cause a brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
The disease progresses rapidly and the first stage is marked by severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting.
In the second stage, the patient can experience hallucinations, and seizures and can even slip into a coma.
The disease – ‘primary amoebic meningoencephalitis’ – is difficult to detect in its early stages. The disease spreads rapidly. The disease is usually discovered after the patient has died.
According to a report in the Indian Express, the Naegleria fowleri has been identified as the cause of PAM in over 16 countries, including India, and has been found on all continents.
The initial symptoms, appearing five days post infection, include
According to the CDC, with the rising global temperatures, the chances of getting Naegleria fowleri infection will go up as the amoeba mainly thrives in warm freshwater bodies. The organism best grows in high temperatures up to 46°C and sometimes can survive at even higher temperatures.
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