Brain-eating amoeba alert: 11-year-old dies after rare infection in Slovakia
A tragic case has emerged in Slovakia, where an 11-year-old boy from the Záhorie region (Erdőháti) has died after being infected by a very rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri, according to the Bratislava-based newspaper Nový Čas. The boy was admitted to hospital on Saturday after contracting the parasite, but despite receiving intensive care, he succumbed to the infection on Tuesday.
Prior to falling ill, the boy had been swimming in the pools of the Vadas Bath in Štúrovo (Párkány), where he was attending swimming lessons. Authorities are currently investigating whether the infection was contracted at that location. Laboratory tests are ongoing, with results expected no earlier than Friday. In the meantime, the Vadas Bath has been ordered to remain closed, according to Új Szó.
What is Naegleria fowleri, or the brain-eating amoeba?
Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the brain-eating amoeba, is a microscopic single-celled organism that thrives in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and inadequately chlorinated swimming pools. The parasite enters the human body through the nasal mucosa and can quickly travel to the brain, causing a fatal infection.
Infection occurs when contaminated, non-sterile water enters the nose—often during swimming, diving, or other water activities. It is important to note that the amoeba cannot survive in properly chlorinated water and is rapidly killed in saltwater.
Symptoms and prognosis
The infection caused by Naegleria fowleri is known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Early symptoms mimic those of bacterial meningitis and include high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures, and hallucinations. The disease progresses rapidly, typically leading to death within five to seven days after the onset of symptoms.
Currently, there is no consistently effective treatment for PAM, and the global survival rate is under 3 per cent. The rapid onset and severity of symptoms make early diagnosis and intervention extremely difficult.
Broader context and public health response
Although infections with Naegleria fowleri are extremely rare, climate change and rising global temperatures may increase the risk of such cases occurring in more northern regions. In Europe, fewer than 25 cases have been documented over recent decades, most of which were linked to outdoor freshwater swimming during the summer months.
The largest known outbreak in Europe occurred in the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia, when a cracked swimming pool wall led to contamination, resulting in 16 fatalities.
The District Public Health Authority of Nové Zámky (Érsekújvár) has informed the Vadas Bath of the suspected infection and is overseeing the ongoing laboratory investigations. The bath remains closed as a precaution until the test results are finalised.
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