Brain-Eating Amoeba Reports Rise in Kerala

Kerala reports a surge in “brain-eating amoeba” cases, mainly due to Acanthamoeba associated with contaminated water. The news highlights free-living amoebas that can infect the brain and cause severe, often fatal, disease.

Brain-Eating Amoeba (Free-living Amoebas):

Dimension	Key Details
Nature	The “brain-eating amoeba” category comprises free-living, single-celled amoebas.
Habitat	Habitat comprises warm freshwater bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and soil.
Types known to cause severe disease in people	Severe disease in people comprises three free-living amoebas: Acanthamoeba (Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis, GAE), Naegleriafowleri (Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, PAM), and Balamuthiamandrillaris.
Transmission routes	Transmission routes comprise entry through the nose, skin, and inhalation, and can involve brain infection.
Why called “brain-eating”	The term “brain-eating amoeba” comprises destruction of brain tissue, leading to severe brain infection.
Fatality (PAM)	PAM comprises a rare disease that is almost always fatal.