Brain-Eating Amoeba In Pools And Tanks? What You Should Know This Monsoon
Naegleria fowleri is a free‑living amoeba that thrives in ponds, lakes, slow‑moving rivers, poorly chlorinated swimming pools, and even domestic water storage. Find out more
When the monsoon lashes India each year, it leaves behind more than swollen rivers and traffic snarls. Warm, rain‑fed pools and half‑chlorinated overhead tanks become breeding grounds for Naegleria fowleri—the so‑called 'brain‑eating amoeba".
The microscopic organism causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease so rare that most doctors never see a case—but so lethal it kills over 95%of those infected.
With July 2025 rainfall already above normal in some states, public‑health officials are warning residents to stay vigilant around warm fresh water.
Let's understand Naegleria fowleri's ecology, how it shows up in India, and – most importantly – how to stay safe.
What Exactly Is Naegleria fowleri?
Naegleria fowleri is a free‑living amoeba that thrives in warm fresh water—ponds, lakes, slow‑moving rivers, thermal springs, poorly chlorinated swimming pools, and even domestic water storage. It has three life stages:
• Cyst (dormant, resilient to cold)
• Trophozoite (feeding form, infectious)
• Flagellate (motile form that seeks new environments)
Human infection occurs when contaminated water is forced up the nose, typically during swimming, ritual ablution, or vigorous douching. The amoeba travels along the olfactory nerve, crosses the cribriform plate, and attacks brain tissue.
Warmer Water Temperatures
As per the India Meteorological Data (IMD), average surface temperatures in ponds and reservoirs across the Gangetic plain now hover around 32-34 °C during July—prime conditions for Naegleria fowleri.
Urban Water‑Storage Habits
Many Indian households store water in rooftop tanks or underground sumps that are rarely cleaned. A 2024 National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) survey in Delhi and Jaipur found 42% of domestic tanks had free‑chlorine levels below WHO's recommended 0.5 mg/L, creating a safe haven for the amoeba.
In Kerala 2023, an 11‑year‑old girl from Alappuzha died after swimming in a canal; lab tests confirmed Naegleria.
Last year in Ahmedabad, municipal workers detected the amoeba in an apartment‑complex pool during routine checks; no fatalities, but the episode triggered fresh chlorination rules.
In May in Mumbai, a 17‑year‑old boy succumbed at a suburban hospital after using a gym spa pool that tested positive for Naegleria.
Although fewer than 20 Indian cases have been confirmed since records began, under‑reporting is likely because PAM symptoms resemble common viral meningitis and diagnostic PCR tests are limited to NIV Pune and a handful of state labs.
How Does India Monitor Naegleria?
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): PAM is a notifiable disease since 2022; district hospitals must report suspected cases within 24 hours.
Routine Water Sampling: Municipal corporations in major metros now test public pools monthly for free‑chlorine residuals and thermophilic amoebae.
Hospital Alerts: NCDC has issued standard operating procedures for early lumbar‑puncture and CSF PCR testing when meningitis does not respond to antibiotics within 24 hours.
What's The Treatment?
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an aggressive cocktail of intravenous amphotericin B, rifampicin, fluconazole, azithromycin, and miltefosine, plus targeted hypothermia to reduce brain swelling.
India's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) imported miltefosine in 2016 after the first Kerala case and stocks it through central medical stores. Still, treatment success worldwide is limited; of more than 430 documented cases, only about 20 survivors exist.
Precautions You Should Take
Avoid forceful water entry into nose: Don't dive or dunk in warm/standing fresh water.
While bathing infants, avoid splashing water up their nostrils.
Use chlorinated water for nasal rinses: For neti‑pot or jal‑neti practice, boil water (rolling boil 1 minute) and cool or use distilled/RO water.
Maintain domestic tanks & pools: Clean storage tanks every three months; keep free chlorine ≥ 0.5 mg/L. Apartment associations should test pool water weekly in July–September.
Public pool etiquette: Check if pool management displays daily chlorine readings.
Avoid swimming if water is cloudy or the deck smells musty.
Seek immediate care for Meningitis‑like symptoms: If severe headache and fever follow recent swimming, insist on Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) testing and mention Naegleria to your doctor.
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
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July 03, 2025, 17:05 IST
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