South Korea reports first case of "brain-eating worm", can it really eat human brains?

China Science and Technology News Network, December 27 (Qin Chuan) According to Korean media reports, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on the 26th that a man who returned to the country after staying in Thailand died of sudden meningitis, and the genes of Naegleria fowleri were detected in his samples.

Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, is a single-cell protozoan. Although they are very small, most of them are only 10 to 30 microns, but they have all the internal organs, even a mouth, a pharynx, and anus. As they move, their shapes are constantly changing, so they are called "amoeba". Brain-eating amoeba can be suspended in water or settle in the soil. They like humidity and heat. They exist in rivers, ponds, puddles and other water. They may even be found in hot water and wet soil.

Brain-eating amoeba "eats" human brains. It means that after the protozoa enters the human brain, it rapidly reproduces and then spreads along the meninges to the central part of the brain, causing purulent meningoencephalitis, vascular hemorrhage and brain parenchyma necrosis. Since brain-eating amoeba feeds on bacteria and other microorganisms in nature, they often have many bacteria parasitizing in their bodies, so they may also bring bacteria into the brain and cause bacterial inflammation.

The main way to prevent infection is to avoid swimming, bathing, and washing your face in unclean rivers, lakes, ponds, and hot springs. It is best to use a nose clip when swimming to prevent dirty water from flowing into your nose. If you experience suspicious symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, abnormal sense of smell, and fever after swimming, you should seek medical attention immediately.