Some species, including Naegleria fowleri, can cause often fatal infections, survive heat and chlorine, and shelter bacteria and viruses in a Trojan horse effect.
The team urges One Health surveillance, faster diagnostics and stronger water treatment, warning climate change could widen outbreaks linked to recreational and drinking water.
Could free-living amoebae in your tap water be sheltering antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making even 'safe' water a hidden health risk?
How close are scientists to developing new diagnostic tools or treatments that can outsmart these nearly indestructible 'brain-eating' amoebae?
Deadly Naegleria fowleri Infections Surge in Kerala 2025: A Global Wake-Up Call for Water Safety and Climate Action
Overview
In 2025, Kerala faced a severe outbreak of Naegleria fowleri infections, resulting in 170 cases and 42 deaths. This was driven by climate change warming freshwater bodies, creating ideal conditions for the amoeba, combined with human practices like using untreated groundwater for bathing and ritual ablutions, which allowed the pathogen to enter the body through the nose. Climate change also expands the amoeba's range and increases human exposure by encouraging more recreational water activities. The amoeba's moderate resistance to chlorine makes standard water treatment insufficient, leading to contamination of tap water and fatal infections when used for nasal irrigation. Low public awareness and inadequate surveillance worsen the risk, highlighting the urgent need for improved prevention, monitoring, and water safety measures.