Mangaluru: Months after a surge in Naegleria fowleri infections in Kerala raised public concern, confusion has surfaced in the city following a suspected case reported at a private hospital. While the treating doctor attributed the death to the so-called brain-eating amoeba, district authorities have firmly denied any confirmed case, stating that no such deaths have been officially recorded.According to the doctor, the patient was in his 30s and had no comorbidities, an unusual detail, as the infection typically affects immunocompromised patients.However, deputy commissioner Darshan HV clarified that no cases of brain-eating amoeba or related deaths have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district so far. “If any case is reported, we will be the first to inform the public and take necessary action,” he said.District surveillance officer Dr Naveen Chandra Kulal also dismissed the claim, stating that the death was not confirmed to be caused by Naegleria fowleri. “We have not received any PCR report attributing the death to Naegleria fowleri. If such a case is detected, it must be reported on the health department portal,” he said, adding that while a few patients from Kerala had visited Mangaluru hospitals in the past, no cases have been recorded in the district so far.Health officials explained that the amoeba is typically found in warm freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, canals, stagnant water and poorly maintained swimming pools. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the body through the nose during activities like swimming, diving or bathing. The organism can then travel to the brain, causing a severe and often fatal infection.Symptoms include severe headache, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of consciousness and seizures. These usually appear within 1 to 12 days of exposure and can progress rapidly.Authorities have urged the public to take precautions, including avoiding stagnant or warm freshwater bodies, refraining from diving into such waters, using nose clips while swimming and ensuring that water does not enter the nose. People are also advised not to disturb sediment in shallow waters, to use only properly chlorinated swimming pools and to rely on boiled or distilled water for nasal cleaning.Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe headache, vomiting, neck stiffness or altered consciousness after contact with water sources should seek immediate medical attention, officials said, stressing that early treatment can be lifesaving.
