South Korea confirms first death from Naegleria fowleri The Korea Times reported that a 50-year-old man died from an illness caused by the attack of this rare amoeba. The 50-year-old is suspected to have contracted the disease during a trip to Thailand. Death occurred within ten days of showing symptoms. (brain eating amoeba death south korea)
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated that the deceased had lived in Thailand for four months before arriving in Korea on December 10. Niegleria fowleri is confirmed after arrival in Korea.
Niegleria fowleri is known as the ‘brain-eating amoeba’. After this disease affects the body, one feels headache, fever, vomiting, difficulty in speaking and stiffness in the neck. Noticing all these symptoms, the South Korean national sought medical help and was immediately admitted to the emergency department.
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Niegleria fowleri is found in ponds and lakes. Niegleria fowleri can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an infection of the brain, if contaminated water enters the nose.
The first symptoms of the disease are headache, vomiting and fever. In the second stage there will be hallucinations and seizures. Later the patient may go into a coma.
The first death in South Korea was reported today. KDCA has not found information on how the disease is transmitted. But the disease can be spread by swimming in contaminated water and inhaling it through the nose, the KDCA said.
This is a very dangerous disease. From 1962 to 2021, only 4 of the 154 people diagnosed with the disease in the United States have recovered.
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