Kerala Battles Largest Ever Outbreak of Brain-Eating Amoeba

Imagine a tiny, single-celled creature, like a very simple germ, called Naegleria fowleri.

It loves warm, fresh water like lakes and ponds.

If this germ gets up your nose when you're swimming or splashing in the water, it can travel to your brain.

Once in the brain, it causes a very serious illness called PAM, which is like a brain fever.

It can make people very sick with symptoms like fever, a stiff neck, and confusion.

Sadly, it's very hard to treat and often leads to death.

Doctors in Kerala are working hard to find cases early and treat them quickly with special medicines to give people a better chance to get better.

They are also telling people to be careful when swimming and to avoid jumping into warm, still water.