Naegleria infection is caused by an amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs. This is a rare brain infection and is usually fatal, with exposures occurring during swimming or other water sports.
Naegleria fowleri, the amoeba causing infection, travels through the nose up to the brain where it causes damage, and the severe injury caused by this amoeba can cause a person to die within a week.
Even though several people are always exposed to the amoeba, causing infection, they rarely get sick. More than that, the reason as to why some are infected while others do not is still unclear to the experts.
The most effective way to mitigate the risk of this infection is to avoid warm bodies of freshwater and nose clips when submerged in the water.