South Korea reports first death from ‘brain-eating amoeba’

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that lives in soil and warm freshwater across the globe. -SCREENGRAB FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)/YOUTUBE

SEOUL (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network): South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as “brain-eating amoeba”, health authorities said on Monday (Dec 26).

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that a Korean national in his 50s had died after returning from Thailand. The man came back to South Korea on Dec 10 after a four-month stint there. He was admitted to a hospital the next day and died Wednesday last week.