Kerala has been reporting many cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a brain infection caused by exposure to amoeba. The state has eight confirmed cases as of now.
To stay safe from the infection, here are a few precautions to be taken both at home and outside, recommended by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Department of Environmental Sciences of Kerala University.
Do not swim or dive in ponds, pools or similar water bodies with stagnant water. They can have the presence of amoeba.
Use nose plugs for unavoidable exposures or at least pinch the nose shut.
Do not expose your nose to sprinklers and hoses. Keep your head above water if you have to get into untreated water bodies.
Use only sterile, filtered, boiled water for nasal or sinus rinsing. Avoid tap water.
Do not let children play with still water in hoses.
Use boiled water as the process can effectively kill the microorganisms.