Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

What is the 'Brain-Eating Amoeba'? 1st death in South Korea confirmed

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Dec 2022 17:08
4 Min Read

Naegleria fowleri is known as a brain-eating amoeba, which killed a Korean national, marking the first death.

  • x
  • Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that enters the body by inhalation through the nose and travels to the brain. Source: Getty Images.
    Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that enters the body by inhalation through the nose and travels to the brain. Source: Getty Images.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported its first case of infection with Naegleria fowleri, colloquially known as the "brain-eating amoeba," on December 26.

The "brain-eating amoeba" Naegleria fowleri, which can be found in soil and warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, has claimed its first victim in South Korea.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the man, a Korean national in his 50s, died after returning to the country on December 10 from Thailand, where he had spent four months. The man was admitted to the hospital the next day after his return, suffering from symptoms such as a headache, fever, vomiting, and speech dysfunction, among others. On December 21, he passed away.

The KDCA confirmed Monday the infection in a deceased patient with brain meningitis who had "recently returned from abroad" after performing genetic tests on three types of pathogens causing Naegleria fowleri.

“To prevent the infection of Naegleria fowleri, we recommend avoiding swimming and leisure-related activities and using clean water when traveling to areas where cases have been reported,” said Jee Young-mee, head of the KDCA, in a press release.

People in the country were also strongly advised to take precautions against the culprit, such as swimming with special clips on their noses to keep water out. Around 381 cases of Naegleria fowleri have been reported worldwide since 2018, including in Thailand, India, the United States, Japan, and China.

What is Naegleria Fowleri?

The single-cell organism Naegleria fowleri, a species of the genus Naegleria, is a type of amoeba that is specially adapted to living in warm freshwater and soil.

Its preferred habitat, where it enjoys its highest reproductive rate, is a warm water environment characterized by a temperature of around 115 F (46.11 degrees Celsius.) It can be found in lakes, rivers, and geothermal hot springs.

Frequent warm water discharge from industrial or power plants, poorly maintained (minimally chlorinated) swimming pools, and water heaters can all be the source of the rare but often fatal infection. The unicellular organism can also survive in damp soil, but it cannot survive in salt water, such as the sea.

The microorganism is less likely to thrive when water temperatures fall below 77°F (25°C). In colder temperatures, the amoeba typically goes dormant. It does not, however, die and is able to survive because it is buried in the sediment of a body of water.

How does Naegleria Fowleri infect people?

There have been no documented cases of infection caused by consuming contaminated water. The amoeba consumes erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, and nerve cells as it travels up the nose to the brain and spinal cord.

As a result, it causes inflammation and destruction of brain tissue, resulting in the rare and severe disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. People cannot spread either the amoeba or the disease it contains through human contact.

What Are Symptoms of PAM?

The first symptoms of PAM usually appear about five days after infection. However, in some cases, symptoms appear as soon as one day after exposure or as late as 12 days after contamination.

A severe headache, feverish chills, nausea, or vomiting are possible symptoms. Further symptoms may include a stiff neck, disorientation, seizures and hallucinations, and, eventually, a coma.

Is PAM Fatal?

Triggered by a free-living amoeba Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri is a disease that affects the central nervous system.

PAM is almost always fatal, with a death rate of more than 97 percent estimated. Only four people survived the disease caused by the microorganism in the United States between 1962 and 2021, out of a total of 154 people who were infected.

How Is PAM Diagnosed?

PAM can be diagnosed in the laboratory by microscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or brain tissue to detect Naegleria fowleri organisms, in addition to watching for warning symptoms.

Read next: Positive results, risks reported in Alzheimer's new drug

  • Brain-Eating Amoeba
  • Naegleria fowleri
  • South Korea

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS