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!
tags :
brain-eating amoeba India monsoon
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 03, 2025, 17:05 IST
News india Brain-Eating Amoeba In Pools And Tanks? What You Should Know This Monsoon
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
‘Mass expulsions in Russian University killed our medical dreams': Indian students allege ‘financial gain' by university
Around 200 Indian students who went to Russia's Bashkir State Medical University to study medicine are now returning to India with their dreams shattered and their options limited. Mass expulsions by the university, citing issues like attendance and subject backlogs, are driven by 'financial greed', students and parents alleged. A university notice, written in Russian on June 9, states that foreign students will not be allowed to appear for exams due to 'failure to fulfil their obligations to conscientiously master the educational program and complete the curriculum'. It lists 234 names across five-years of the medical course, a majority of which are Indian students. The All Foreign Medical Graduates' Association (AFA) said on X that the college is 'deliberately expelling' Indian students, especially those in their second and third years, knowing that as per National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, they cannot transfer to other universities. A third-year student originally from Maharashtra who is taking a flight to India on Saturday (July 5, 2025) night, said on the condition of anonymity, 'I am now returning to India because I do not have any other option. The university admitted around 1000 students, over their capacity, and are now expelling us over minor issues.' The student added, 'We are now asked to take admission from the first year. We have already spent lakhs of rupees and cannot give up now. We will be forced to spend lakhs of rupees again and waste three years.' The NMC mandates that Indian students complete their entire medical education, training, and internship in the same foreign institution where they started. The student said that the university 'targets Indians to exploits this'. Expulsion notices The student said that his grounds for attendance was 'low attendance', even after informing the university that he was returning to India due to a family emergency. Another student said, 'Despite having genuine reasons for missing a few lectures — visa processes, medical appointments — I made sure to clear my absences before exams.' The student said that his 'medical dreams have been shattered'. The Hindu reached out to the Dean and International students office but did not receive a response. Messages to an unofficial head for Indian students, Ambika, did not warrant a response either. One such expulsion notice read that he did not clear 'academic debt in the discipline 'Biochemistry''. It went on to stipulate the process for acquiring an Exit Visa. The student from Maharashtra said, 'I was forced to sign a 'self-expulsion' notice and threatened that I will not even have the option of returning if I did not.' 'Spent lakhs of rupees' A parent, who did not wish to be identified, said, 'After the Ukraine-Russia war, consultants began recommending Russian Universities. We sent our children with high hopes, taking loans. Many are now returning, quitting on their dreams to become doctors. It is traumatic and unfair.' The parent said that the family has already spent ₹25 lakh, and if their daughter were to be re-admitted, this would cost them another ₹15 lakh. Students said that the annual expenses amount to around ₹4 lakh, which is still less than private universities in India, and hence, it becomes a top choice for those who did not get into public universities. Multiple students that The Hindu spoke to said that consultants and agents highly recommended the university. The students have reached out to the Indian embassy and have written multiple emails to the Indian Government, but have not received any responses. A mail to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that universities admit far more students than they can accommodate and later, expel them under various pretexts. It added that the universities, promising to teach in English, switch to Russian after the Third year, complicating things further for foreign students. The Indian embassy in Russia had conducted a visit to the university in June and shared photos with students on their official website. Students, however, alleged that they were threatened with expulsion even in front of officials. Officials were contacted but did not respond until the time of printing.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Delhi Bird Census: Over 160 Bird Species, 21 First Time Sightings Documented
New Delhi: More than 160 bird species including endangered and migratory ones like the greater flamingo and Indian pitta have been recorded across the national capital as part of the Delhi Bird Atlas. The summer phase of the atlas -- a pioneering citizen science initiative supported by Wildlife SOS and the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department -- reported 21 first-time sightings and saw over 600 checklists uploaded to the eBird platform, surpassing the winter documentation efforts, according to a statement. The project, which divides Delhi into 145 observation zones, is aimed at building a long-term understanding of avian distribution patterns across seasons, officials said. Alongside this documentation drive, Wildlife SOS has intensified its rescue efforts during the scorching summer, saving nearly 500 birds till May 2025. These included raptors and migratory species impacted by extreme heat, electrocution, collisions, and habitat stress. Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Chief Wildlife Warden, said the Delhi Bird Atlas is not just a scientific initiative but a "community-powered effort" to reconnect people with nature and create a data-backed conservation strategy for the capital. The initiative also underscores the growing role of citizens in spotting and reporting injured or distressed birds, often triggering rescue operations. "With Delhi reeling under erratic climate patterns and rising pollution, initiatives like the Bird Atlas become all the more urgent," said Wasim Akram, Director of Special Projects at Wildlife SOS.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
All the international talent working on Ranbir Kapoor-Yash starrer ‘Ramayana'
The first-glimpse teaser of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has inspired awe and wonder among fans, with some hailing it as a new dawn in Indian storytelling. A grand adaptation of the timeless Indian epic, the film, featuring a stellar cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi and others, brings together some of the best technicians from across the world. The film's mammoth budget (₹800 crore approx) covers the cost of assembling a constellation of global artistes. The title reveal video, which released on July 03, 2025, confirmed the presence of several international legends, with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer being the biggest coup. The makers have described the project as an unprecedented creative communion between the East and the West. Filmed for IMAX, Ramayana is aiming to deliver a visual spectacle high on scale and technically mastery. Set to release in two parts on Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027 respectively, the film positions itself as a global event, riding the wave of effects-rich crossover blockbusters out of India like RRR and Baahubali. Speaking at the teaser launch in Mumbai, producer Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios reiterated his vision to create a world-class experience. 'It has been a very, very long dream that we have been collaborating to put our hearts, soul and life into this so that we can do justice to this epic,' Malhotra said. 'My only aspiration is with pride how we take our greatest culture, our greatest part of our history and share it with the world.' To this end, here are the various international names bringing this vision to life. DNEG: VFX and animation A top-flight VFX and animation studio, DNEG won its eighth Oscars for its work on Dune: Part Two. A subsidiary of Prime Focus, the studio was praised for producing complex simulations, creature animations and large-scale CG environs. Established in 1998, DNEG has collaborated on big-budget Hollywood films across genres, such as Fast and Furious (action), Venom (superhero) and Mickey 17 (sci-fi). In its most recent work, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, DNEG helped visualise physical phenomena ranging from subatomic particles and huge nuclear blasts to exploding stars and the formation of black holes. Other Credits:Dune, Blade Runner 2049, Tenet. Hans Zimmer: Co-composer Having composed for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator and Interstellar, Zimmer is the preeminent architect of modern sound. His most popular work has been in Christopher Nolan's films, including the famous Dark Knight trilogy, as well as with Denis Villeneuve and Ridley Scott. Zimmer's work is revered for a mix of powerful and emotionally resonant scores, enhancing the grandeur of films of epic scale. Here, he collaborates with Indian maestro AR Rahman for a momentous experience. Other Credits:Inception, The Lion King, and Dune. Terry Notary: Stunt Director/Movement Coach Revered as a highly-skilled stunt choreographer and and stunt performer, Terry worked closely with leading directors of Hollywood, including Ron Howard, James Cameron, Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. In his 17-year career, Terry has donned the role of actor, director, creature performer, animal movement specialist, movement choreographer and stunt coordinator. In projects such as Avatar, The Hobbit trilogy, The Incredible Hulk, Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Adventures of Tintin, The BFG, Warcraft and Suicide Squad, he has work as a movement choreographer was widely acclaimed. Notary's experience on the Planet of The Apes franchise will come in handy in capturing realistic movement and facial animations for the 'vanar sena (monkey army) in Ramayana. Other Credits:Avengers, The Square Guy Norris: Stunt Director / Action Choreographer: A celebrated stunt director, Guy Norris is the man behind hits such as Furiosia: A Mad Max Saga, Mad Max: Fury Road and The Suicide Squad. Norris is often hailed for producing real, tangible action sequences, and as a master of balancing physical stunts and computer-generated imagery of stunt scenes. In Fury Road, one of his most challenging projects, Norris is said to have managed a total of 150 people across 300 sequences. Other Credits: Ghost in the Shell: Triple Frontier. Ravi Bansal:Production Designer Production designers give shape and form to a film's vision, translating imagined landscapes into physical space. Ravi Bansal, who joined DNEG in 2019 as head of global art, has a roster of impressive credits including his work in the DCEU as well as Dune 2 and Aladdin. Bhansal has been tapped alongside Ramsey Avery to recreate the scale and grandeur of 'ancient India' in Ramayana. Ramsey Avery: Production Designer Ramsey Avery worked world-building magic in Rings of Power, Prime Video's sumptuous series set in the Lord of The Rings universe. His most recent work, Captain America: Brave New World, was a big-budget superhero smash featuring vast sets including a White House interior replica. A veteran of both film and television, Avery has toiled on sci-fi standards like Minority Report and 10 Cloverfield Lane. He has also created themed attractions for the Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure. Other talents (as listed by IMDb) Eva Onsrud, Set Decorator (Credits: Gladiator 2, Napoleon), Verginia Holmes: Hair Designer / Hairstylist (Credits: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit Trilogy), Michael Grobe: VFX Supervisor (Credits: Venom, Dune: Part Two) and Daniel Jennings: Set Designer (Credits: 300, X-Men, The Lord of the Rings).
