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Vietnam's 2nd case of deadly brain-eating amoeba still puzzling

Via Thanh Nien Daily: Vietnam's 2nd case of deadly brain-eating amoeba still puzzling. Excerpt:

Doctors in Ho Chi Minh City have revealed surprising findings about Vietnam’s second case of a rare brain-eating amoeba, but much about the recent death is still a mystery. 

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, Dr. Phan Van Hieu, director of HCMC Center for Forensic Science, said the number of the amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, in the brain of the six-year-old victim, and the extent of the damage to his brain, suggested that the organism had entered his body just over one week before he died on August 12. 

However, diagnosis of an abscess – a pus-filled cavity formed from inflammation in response to bacterial infection – in the brain suggested that the brain could have been attacked by the amoeba for at least one month, Hieu said. 

The forensic center’s report presented by Hieu at the conference stirred and puzzled experts, VnExpress reported.  

Usually people develop first symptoms of amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) - a brain inflammation and nervous system disease caused by the organism - within one to seven days since exposure, and they die within one to 12 days since the first symptoms. 

Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, head of the infection and neurology department at Children Hospital 1, even raised doubts about the earlier diagnosis that concluded that the boy died because of PAM caused by Naegleria fowleri. 

But that suspicion was soon rejected by Dr. Dinh Nguyen Huy Man, chief of testing department at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which conducted the tests together with the forensic center, the news website said. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, director of the tropical diseases hospital, said that if the findings were really true, it would be one of the world’s rarest cases of the disease. He stressed that there has been only one case in which a patient survived as the amoeba weakened and finally died. 

In fact, Hieu said he would probably present the findings at conferences on the amoeba in other countries, according to VnExpress. 

As much as it was shocking, the latest report still failed to find out where the boy contracted the organism – a question that has puzzled local experts and officials since the case was reported.

Pakistan: No risk of Naegleria if water boiled or chlorinated, say experts

Via The News International: No risk of Naegleria if water boiled or chlorinated, say experts. Excerpt:

Outbreaks of bird flu, dengue fever and now the ‘brain-eating’ Naegleria fowleri have all made people very concerned about their health, but this brain infection, caused by the amoeba Naegleria entering through the nose, can be avoided.   

This was the consensus of experts who spoke at a public health awareness programme organised by Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on Thursday.   

They advised the people to keep their head out of the water while swimming and prevent water going up the nose during showering and bathing.   

Moreover, experts recommended the use of only boiled or chlorinated water when cleaning the nose for religious practices or other reasons.   

“A person cannot get an infection from drinking or bathing in contaminated water. Nor does the infection spread through person-to-person contact.”   

Speaking to the audience, Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood, consultant infectious diseases, said Naegleria causes a very rare form of brain infection, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that leads to the destruction of brain tissue and brain swelling.   

Initial symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, anorexia, vomiting and later progress to a stiff neck, altered mental status, seizures and coma.   

“Unfortunately, PAM is a fatal disease for which no effective treatment exists anywhere in the world. While amoeba-killing medicines are always given to patients, these usually do not work and death occurs almost 99 percent of the time. Only a small number of Naegleria cases have been reported worldwide, with a dramatic increase in Karachi recently,” he said.

Pakistan: More on the Naegleria deaths

Via BBC News: Karachi: Brain-eating amoeba kills 10. Excerpt:

A rare brain-eating amoeba is responsible for at least 10 deaths in the Pakistani city of Karachi in recent months, health officials believe. 

The source of the parasite is not yet known, but it is thought victims may have been exposed to it when using water to rinse their nasal passages. 

The amoeba, Naegleria Fowleri, lives in warm water and kills its victims by destroying brain tissue. Officials are now increasing the amount of chlorine in the public water supply. 

The deaths are in various locations across Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city. 

Dr Shakeel Mallick, who works for the provincial health department, said nine of those killed were men, while one victim was a child of four. 

Officials suspect other cases may have gone undetected. Dr Mallick said hospitals were now being "vigilant".

'Brain-eating amoeba' kills 10 in southern Pakistan

Via CBC News: 'Brain-eating amoeba' kills 10 in southern Pakistan. Excerpt:

A waterborne parasite commonly known as "brain-eating amoeba" has killed 10 people in Pakistan's largest city, a Pakistani official with the World Health Organization says. 

The amoeba — Naegleria fowleri — lives in warm, unclean water. It can infect the human nervous system, though this occurs rarely. In those cases it is difficult to treat and can lead to death in about a week. 

Musa Khan, in charge of WHO's Disease Early Warning System in Pakistan, said Tuesday that the deaths were reported in the city of Karachi from March to September. 

He said municipal authorities launched a campaign in the area to ensure the supply of clean water to residents. Health officials are carrying out a public awareness campaign to educate and guide people and doctors across Karachi about the disease, he said. 

Other parts of Pakistan have also been alerted but so far no cases have been reported elsewhere, Khan said. 

"There is no need to panic over these deaths," he stressed. "There is a remote chance for the spread of this deadly disease." 

He said people don't usually get the brain-affecting form of the disease by drinking water, but by swimming in dirty water or cleaning their nostrils with contaminated water. 

From the nostrils, the parasite travels to the brain where it destroys tissue. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck and headaches.