BRAIN EATING AMOEBA
Context
- Recently, Kerala’s Kozhikode district has reported 3 back-to-back cases of the rare disease Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria fowleri.
- A 9-year-old girl has died, while a 3-month-old infant and another patient remain critical.
What is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM):
- Caused mainly by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater, soil, and dust.
- Enters the human body via nose, migrates to the brain, causing severe, often fatal inflammation.
- Other amoebae (e.g., Acanthamoeba) may also cause encephalitis with longer incubation periods.
- First case in India: 1971
- First Kerala case: 2016
- Till 2023: Only 8 cases in Kerala
- 2024: 36 cases, 9 deaths
- 2025 (till August): 8 cases, 2 deaths
KEY FACTS
- Fatality Rate:
- Global: ~97%
- Kerala: reduced to ~25% (due to early detection & state protocols).
- India’s first PAM survivor: July 2024, 14-year-old Kozhikode boy (11th survivor globally).
- Symptoms: Severe headache, fever, stiff neck, seizures, rapid progression → coma & death.
- Transmission:
- Contaminated freshwater (lakes, ponds, baths) entering nose.
- Also from dust/soil particles (not necessarily water exposure).
REASONS FOR RISING CASES
- Increased testing for AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome).
- Climate change – higher temperatures = favorable conditions for amoeba growth.
- Environmental pollution – contaminated water sources.
- Improved surveillance & reporting.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
- Kerala: first Indian state to issue
- Special Treatment Protocol (2024).
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for PAM management.
- Strengthened laboratory diagnosis (molecular tests).
- Awareness campaigns on safe water usage.
SIGNIFICANCE
- Public Health Concern: Extremely high mortality rare disease, needing early detection.
- Climate–Health Linkages: Demonstrates how climate change alters disease patterns.
- Kerala’s proactive role: Model of how states can innovate protocols for rare diseases.
- UPSC Relevance: Links to GS Paper II (Health policies, governance) + GS Paper III (Climate change, Science & Tech, Disease ecology).
CHALLENGES
- Diagnosis: Often delayed, symptoms mimic meningitis/encephalitis.
- Treatment: Limited drug effectiveness; few survivors worldwide.
- Public Awareness: Low, especially regarding water/dust transmission.
- Balancing Resources: Rare diseases compete with priority illnesses (TB, Malaria).
WAY FORWARD
- National Surveillance: Include PAM under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
- Research: Develop rapid diagnostic kits & effective drugs.
- Public Awareness: Safe use of freshwater bodies, hygiene campaigns.
- Climate Preparedness: Link environmental monitoring with health risk warnings.
- Replication of Kerala Model: Protocols and SOPs should be adapted across states for rare diseases.
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