The amoeba “Naegleria fowleri” is a microscopic organism that thrives in the fresh, warm water of lakes and rivers, as well as in geothermal springs and poorly maintained pools. This microorganism can become fatal to humans if it enters the human body through the nose and causes a severe brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. This disease is fatal in 95% of cases.
Because when passing through the nostrils, the microbe rises to the brain and causes severe migraines, hyperthermia, stiff neck and vomiting before causing dizziness, lethargy, confusion and hallucinations.
However, this type of infection remains very rare. In 2014, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) was seized by the Ministry of Health following the death of a 9-year-old boy in Guadeloupe after bathing in a pool fed by a hot water spring in 2008. This opinion suggests that the presence of The health risk associated with amoebas “is low because cases of infection are rare”. According to her, 310 cases have been registered worldwide in the last 50 years. Despite this, only 11 people survived.