South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri or “brain-eating amoeba”.
Naegleria is an amoeba, a single-celled organism,and only one of its species.
It was first discovered in Australia in 1965.
It is commonly found in warm freshwater bodies, such as hot springs, rivers and lakes.
The amoeba enters the human body through the nose and then travels up to the brain.
Once Naegleria fowleri goes to the brain, it destroys brain tissues and causes a dangerous infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).