Climate Change Driving Spread of Brain-Eating Amoeba, Study Finds
The free-living amoebae, also known as brain-eating amoebae, are becoming a growing global public health threat, warned a new study.
Free-living amoebae—commonly known as brain-eating amoebae—are emerging as a growing global public health concern, driven by climate change, ageing water infrastructure, and gaps in monitoring, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal Biocontaminant by a team of environmental and public health scientists, warns that these pathogens are increasingly able to survive and spread in water systems previously considered safe.
“What makes these organisms particularly dangerous is their ability to survive conditions that kill many other microbes,” said corresponding author Longfei Shu of Sun Yat-sen University, China. “They can tolerate high temperatures, withstand strong disinfectants like chlorine, and even persist inside water distribution systems,” Shu added.
Amoebae are single-celled organisms commonly found in soil and freshwater environments. While most species are harmless, some can cause severe and often fatal infections. The most well-known is Naegleria fowleri, which can trigger a rare but almost always fatal brain infection when contaminated water enters the nose—typically during swimming or other water-based activities. In recent years, infections linked to Naegleria fowleri have also been reported in Kerala.
The study also highlights a less visible but serious risk: amoebae can act as “Trojan horses” for other harmful microbes. By sheltering bacteria and viruses inside their cells, amoebae can protect these pathogens from disinfection, allowing them to survive and spread through drinking water systems. This mechanism may also contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance, the authors warned.
Climate warming is expected to further worsen the threat by expanding the geographic range of heat-loving amoebae into regions where they were previously uncommon. Recent outbreaks linked to recreational water use have already heightened public concern in several countries.
The researchers called for a coordinated One Health approach—integrating human health, environmental science, and water management—to address the risk. They urged stronger surveillance, improved diagnostic tools, and the adoption of advanced water treatment technologies to reduce exposure before infections occur.
“Amoebae are not just a medical issue or an environmental issue,” Shu said. “They sit at the intersection of both, and addressing them requires integrated solutions that protect public health at its source.”
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