Brain-eating amoeba spreads rapidly in region where PM Orbán holidayed

There is virtually no protection against the brain-eating amoeba, and infection carries a high mortality rate: those affected often have only days, or in rare cases, weeks to live. Although it is not transmissible from person to person, widespread alarm was sparked when an 11-year-old boy died just days after swimming in Párkány, only 50 kilometres from Budapest. Now, the disease is spreading in Kerala, the location of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent holiday in India.

Brain-eating amoeba detected close to Hungary

German outlet Der Spiegel reported on the rising number of infections. According to the paper, deaths caused by the brain-eating amoeba known to authorities remain relatively low in India, but fatalities in Kerala have doubled compared with the previous year. Since the beginning of the year, 72 cases have been recorded, 19 of them fatal. In September alone, 24 infections and 9 deaths were reported. By contrast, in the whole of 2024, there were just 36 cases and 9 deaths.

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Dr Altaf Ali, a physician and member of a task force set up to control the outbreak in Kerala, expressed concern that this year’s cases are more geographically dispersed rather than concentrated in specific areas. Widespread testing has therefore been launched.

Boy likely not infected in Párkány

Fear spread in Hungary this summer after a suspected case of brain-eating amoeba infection emerged in Párkány. An 11-year-old boy reportedly fell ill and died just days after visiting the Vadas thermal baths there. The operators, however, insisted the infection could not have been contracted on their premises, suggesting instead that he had previously visited an “exotic country”, as reported by bumm.sk at the time.

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Endre Hogenbuch, director of the baths, stated that “no dangerous strains, including Naegleria fowleri, were found” in the swimming pools. Authorities later found no evidence of the amoeba either, yet the news severely affected tourism in southern Slovakia.

Viktor Orbán also visited Kerala

As we reported in several articles, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spent a holiday in Kerala in early January with his wife and two younger daughters. Some media outlets claimed he underwent an Ayurvedic detox retreat, while Orbán maintained it was merely a cultural trip during his time off. In a rare move, he gave an interview to Blikk to address opposition criticism and speculation.

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In response to questions from the tabloid, Orbán said he had paid for the trip himself, was in excellent health, and remarked: “If you want luxury, go to an Austrian ski resort, but if you’re interested in culture, choose India.” The statement reportedly resonated with many Indians, and several local outlets noted how unusual it is for a European leader to spend a holiday in India.

• Read more news about PM Viktor Orbán on our site or the latest Hungary news

What is Kerala like?

Kerala is India’s most densely populated state, known for its high levels of education and literacy—virtually no illiteracy exists. The state offers quality infrastructure and, thanks to its geographical position, is well integrated into global trade. Tourism is a key sector of the local economy, with attractions ranging from the first burial site of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in Kochi to national parks and well-developed beaches.

What is the brain-eating amoeba and where is it found?

The Naegleria fowleri amoeba lives in water and can enter the human brain, causing fatal inflammation of brain tissue. These dangerous single-celled organisms thrive in warm fresh water and enter the human body through the nose. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infection is “extremely rare but almost invariably fatal.” Fortunately, it does not spread from person to person.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection as including headache, fever and vomiting. These symptoms rapidly worsen and can lead to “seizures, altered mental status, hallucinations and coma.”

Since 1962, approximately 550 cases have been reported worldwide, primarily in the US, India, Pakistan and Australia. In 2022, reports suggested that climate change could increase the amoeba’s spread.

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