Amoebic meningoencephalitis is an acute, almost always fatal brain infection caused by the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria fowleri. People get infected when the amoeba enters the body through the nose, typically from warm freshwater during activities like swimming.
Symptoms, which appear quickly, include severe headache, fever, nausea, confusion, and seizures. While prevention by avoiding activities in warm, untreated freshwater is crucial, treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is poor, with a mortality rate over 95%.
Following the rise in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, the Kerala government has issued guidelines for pollution control in water bodies and swimming pools. The State Public Health Officer issued the order to ensure precautionary measures are followed. The order highlighted that swimming pools, as well as bathing in polluted ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing streams, are key contributors to the spread of the disease.
Key instructions:
1. Operators of resorts, hotels, water theme parks, and swimming training centres must chlorinate water daily and maintain a special register, which should be produced for inspection by panchayat health officials.
2. Chlorination should also be carried out in water reservoirs used for drinking water.
3. Agencies such as the Water Authority and the Jalanidhi are responsible for ensuring the purification of water supply networks.
4. Water found to contain amoeba in drinking supply networks should not be used for domestic purposes.
5. Discharge of waste into water sources and dumping of solid waste must be prevented.
