🧠⚠️ Brain-Eating Amoeba: Rare but Real Meet Naegleria fowleri — a microscopic amoeba found in warm freshwater like lakes, rivers, and ponds. It’s incredibly rare, but when contaminated water enters through the nose, the amoeba can travel to the brain and cause a deadly infection called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). 🩺 Key Facts – Infection only occurs when water enters the nose, not by drinking – Symptoms appear 2–8 days after exposure: fever, headache, nausea, confusion, seizures – The condition progresses fast and is usually fatal — but cases are extremely rare (only 34 reported in the U.S. from 2009–2018) ✅ Protect Yourself – Avoid freshwater swimming during hot weather – Use nose clips – Don’t jump or dive into warm freshwater – Rinse nasal passages with distilled or boiled water Stay informed, stay safe — no panic, just prevention.