Naegleria Fowleri

Naegleria Fowleri , five cases reported in Pakistan, Since May 2021.

What is Naegleria Fowleri

Negleria fowleri amoeba (brain eating amoeba) lives naturally in most warm and fresh waterways including lakes, rivers, ponds, hot springs and swimming pools that are poorly maintained. It affects people by entering the host’s body through the nose during swimming or driving in warm fresh water, traveling to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue. Naegleria Fowleri is a deadly disease which has no cure but is preventable through precautionary measures.

 
Signs and symptoms of the infection include

• 1.      Severe frontal headache

• 2.      Stiff neck

• 3.      Fever

• 4.      Seizures

• 5.      Nausea

• 6.      Altered mental state

• 7.      Vomiting
• 8.      Coma

Prevention can be adopted through the following measures

• 1.      Avoiding water activities in pools, ponds or untreated water -  when the water is warm or the temperature is near or over 80 F.
  
• 2.      Keeping the head above water or using a nose clip.
  
• 3.      Periodically cleaning underground and overhead tanks while keeping them well chlorinated.
  
• 4.      Avoiding boring water and / or boiling it before use.
  
• 5.      During summers, frequent swimmers should choose swimming pools wisely while making sure that the authorities keep it well maintained / chlorinated on a regular basis.

•  Naegleria is 100% preventable. Kill Naegeleria Fowleri before it kills you.